Chapter 214
The five Zerdinger knight trainees sitting at the rest area kept glancing—stealing looks—at Leo and Celia.
“You can get drinks to recover your energy here, some light snacks, and even meals.”
“So it’s like our school’s canteen?”
“Not quite. You don’t pay for anything, and the menu is always fixed.”
Celia shrugged as she explained the rest area.
Since Leo would be staying at the Zerdinger estate during the early part of the break, he would be using the training grounds often.
Nodding at Celia’s words, Leo grabbed some drinks and returned to where the trainees were.
The moment they saw Leo coming back, the trainees panicked and jumped up from their seats.
“L-Leo, Young Master! We’ll do it!”
“Hm? It’s fine.”
“P-Please let us do it!”
“Yes! We insist!”
They seemed so burdened by Leo taking care of them that they even pleaded. Seeing that, Leo nodded and handed over the tray.
The girl who appeared to be the leader among the trainees set up Leo and Celia’s drinks first, then passed out the rest to the other knights.
“Well, even though it’s just a meeting, it’s our first time together, so why don’t we start with some introductions? But first—”
Leo looked at Celia, who was sitting beside him sipping her drink through a straw.
“What are you doing?”
“Hm?”
“How long are you planning to stay here?”
“You’re telling me to leave?”
Celia frowned deeply.
As someone praised as the noble direct descendant and future of the Zerdinger family, her frown made the trainees visibly anxious.
They had all trained in swordsmanship with Celia since childhood at the training grounds.
Never before had they seen her scowl like this, which made it all the more shocking.
Leo wore a disinterested look at Celia’s reaction.
“Why are you even here? I’m meeting with my knights.”
“You jerk! I can watch if I want to! How can you be so cold and draw a line like that?”
Celia snapped, and Leo waved his hand at her.
“Go.”
“Fine! I’m going! So petty!”
Swish—! Celia stormed off, and Leo let out a small laugh.
“So sensitive.”
“Um… Young Master Leo… Are you sure it’s okay to send Lady Celia off like that?”
The girl who appeared to be the leader asked cautiously.
“She looked really upset…”
“It’s fine. She’ll get over it.”
Leo chuckled as he looked at her.
“So, how about you go first and introduce yourself?”
Leo had already seen that this girl was the most skilled among the group.
‘That must be why she’s the leader.’
At Leo’s words, the girl introduced herself.
“My name is Martina Eran. I’ve been training as a Zerdinger trainee for five years. I’m fifteen years old.”
Martina, the same age as Leo, stood and gave a respectful bow.
“I’m Austin Mare. I’m sixteen years old.”
“I’m Carin Rote. I’m fourteen.”
“Julian Carven. I’m also fourteen, like Carin.”
“Valerie Tom. I’m fourteen, too.”
After Martina, Austin, Carin, Julian, and Valerie introduced themselves in order.
Leo nodded as he memorized each name.
“I’m Leo Plov. I’m fifteen.”
Hearing Leo’s introduction, the five looked at him with eyes full of admiration.
And it was no wonder.
Leo was one of the most well-known hero cadets this year.
Not just at Lumene, but across all hero academies, he was hailed as the top student.
Lunia of Seiren.
Ar of Azonia.
Dirdan of Damienne.
All of them were the best first-years representing their races.
But none had achieved as much as Leo.
On top of that, he’d become the youngest student council president.
He was naturally a figure to be admired by his peers.
But soon, the knights’ expressions turned somber.
Seeing this, Leo spoke.
“They may have been chosen by the family, but now that you’re my knights, I’ll fulfill my responsibilities.”
“No, Young Master Leo. We all volunteered to be your knights.”
“You did?”
“Yes. Before summer, the family opened applications for those who wanted to be your knights.”
Becoming the knight of a direct bloodline member was an incredible honor.
It was also a path to securing a high-ranking position within Zerdinger.
Being the knight of a direct line meant more opportunities to earn recognition.
That’s why, for Zerdinger trainees, serving a direct bloodline was a golden opportunity.
“I actually watched your entrance exam in person.”
Martina smiled shyly.
She said that when Celia visited House Plov during the exam, Martina came along as an apprentice knight.
“You were amazing, facing that monster without using [Aura].”
Martina said it was like watching a hero from a story who made the impossible possible.
So when she heard Leo was officially becoming a direct descendant, she was the first to express her wish to serve him.
The other trainees each had their reasons for volunteering as well.
Hearing this, Leo nodded.
“I see. So, you all chose me?”
Leo gave a small smile.
But Martina didn’t look happy.
Seeing this, Leo tilted his head.
“What’s wrong?”
“We’re sorry, but we’ve all decided to resign from being your knights.”
Leo furrowed his brow at those words.
“Why?”
Martina hesitated, and Austin stepped in to speak carefully.
“We believe we’re not good enough to be your knights.”
Austin explained.
Martina, Austin, Carin, Julian, and Valerie—all five of them were only average among the Zerdinger trainee knights.
Martina was in the upper-mid tier, but even so, she wasn’t skilled enough to be selected as a direct knight.
Leo rested his chin in his hand.
“Then how did you end up as my knights?”
“Well…”
Carin hesitated before speaking cautiously.
“When recruitment first opened, the competition wasn’t very fierce…”
Leo nodded as if he understood.
When the recruitment for Leo’s knights started, he wasn’t well known beyond being All-Class and year representative.
Many in the family were wary of Leo, who had suddenly appeared and been named a direct descendant candidate.
So the top trainees didn’t consider applying to be his knight a wise choice.
Thanks to that, the five now sitting here became Leo’s knights.
But after the [Department Competition] in the first semester, the conquest of Luna’s World in the second, and becoming the youngest student council president—Leo’s reputation changed drastically.
Now, not a single person in the family dared to look down on him.
‘So now the other Zerdinger trainees want a spot in my knight order?’
Leo chuckled inwardly.
Then he looked at his knights.
‘These five probably aren’t from any powerful families.’
Some might be from minor noble houses—or even commoners.
In theory, all Zerdinger trainees were equal.
But realistically, skill and family background couldn’t be ignored.
For trainees with only average skill and no family support, being bullied by others would be exhausting.
“There are many more capable trainees than us. That’s why… we think it’s right to resign.”
Martina and the others bowed their heads.
Their lips clenched, fists tightening, as Leo spoke.
“Why go through all that trouble?”
“Pardon?”
Leo rested his chin again.
“Just be my knights.”
Martina was flustered.
“B-But Young Master Leo, we’re not good enough. We’ll only tarnish your reputation.”
“You can just improve. And you don’t need to worry about my reputation.”
Leo looked at the five and smiled.
“You all had your reasons and chose me from the start. That’s enough.”
The knights looked stunned as Leo stood up.
“If you think you’re lacking, why don’t you start training with me from tomorrow?”
“Training with you, Young Master Leo?”
“Yeah.”
‘Sword training with the Lumene student council president…’
‘T-This might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance…!’ (T/N: Are you sure about that? LOL. HAHAHAHAHA)
The five looked at one another and nodded.
“We’ll do it!”
Martina’s words made Leo smile.
“Yeah? Then I’ll let Instructor Jerco know.”
If Celia had seen this, she might have tried to stop the trainees.
“You’re training with me starting tomorrow.”
But unfortunately for them, Celia wasn’t here.
—
The courtyard of Lumene was quiet after the students had gone.
Inside the Tower of Heroes, a faculty meeting was in session.
“Next agenda item concerns the entrance exam.”
As Professor Harrid, who was in charge of the upcoming entrance exam, spoke, the professors paid close attention.
“The exam is coming up. But this year, it’ll be handled differently.”
Lumene was entering a time of change.
The Sword Saint, who had long been its central figure, was gone.
And last year, spies had infiltrated Lumene.
It was a time to be even more careful in selecting new students.
Professor Ain asked Harrid a question.
“By differently… are you referring to the ‘joint exam’ you mentioned before?”
“Yes.”
Harrid nodded.
Up to now, entrance exams at Lumene had been conducted regionally, depending on each examiner’s discretion.
But not this year.
“I’ll send out the official notice tomorrow.”
“Then where will the exam be held?”
Yura asked with a puzzled expression, and Harrid replied plainly.
“The Lordren Empire should do.”
The professors nodded.
Few nations could handle a global crowd.
And the most reliable option was the western superpower, the Lordren Empire.
“I assume the exam contents will be standardized as well?”
“Correct.”
Harrid flipped through documents without even glancing at the others.
“What’s the content of the exam?”
At Ain’s question, Harrid answered plainly.
“They’ll fight our enrolled students.”
“…Excuse me?”
The professors blinked in confusion.
“Did you say fight enrolled students?”
“Yeah. Our students will ‘hunt’ the freshman candidates.”
“…”
The professors’ expressions twisted strangely.
“Isn’t that… a bit too extreme?”
Yura asked carefully.
Harrid raised his head, expressionless.
“Do you think I’d create a nonsensical exam?”
‘If it’s Professor Harrid…’
‘He totally would…’
That not a single student from Class 1-5 dropped out under Harrid’s care had been hailed as a miracle by both students and faculty.
But among students, his true self was known as the terrifying Wailing Wall of Lumene.
He was infamous for mercilessly recommending expulsion to unqualified students.
“The students participating in the exam will be second-years.”
“Oh, if it’s second-years, that’s a bit of a relief.”
“Professor Yura. Please summon the students listed here to the Lordren Empire.”
Harrid handed the list to Yura.
Her expression instantly froze.
“Chloe Mueller, Duran Moira, Celia Zerdinger, Leo Plov, Chelsea Lewellin, Abad Lewellin, Eliza Hergin, Walden Thaiden, Chen Xia?”
As the names of nine students were read, the other professors’ faces stiffened too.
“W-Wait a second. Are you seriously calling these students?”
“Yes.”
Harrid continued scanning the documents without even looking up.
“If they can’t survive against second-years, then they’re not worth admitting.”
‘They’re not just any second-years!’
Yura screamed internally.
The other professors looked just as disturbed.
But no one voiced it out loud.
Even to them, Harrid was pure terror.
So the professors could only sigh deeply, sending silent pity to this year’s new candidates.
They were convinced—this year’s exam would be the toughest ever.