Chapter 232

“Which dorm are you going to join?”

“Still, isn’t the First Dormitory the best?”

“I’m going for the Second Dormitory. As someone from the Knights Department, being in the same dorm as Celia is definitely not a bad choice.”

On the first day of dorm announcements, the overwhelming majority of students wanted to join the First Dormitory.

But once the other dorm leaders defined their directions, interest in other dorms also began to grow.

It was true that Leo had made a name for himself as the class representative and student council president.

However, it was the dormitory leaders who had led the students through their department lives until now.

“I don’t get it!”

About five days into dorm selection, when the dormitory rosters were beginning to take shape—

Students proud of their departments gravitated toward the Second Dormitory with Celia, Chelsea, and Walden.

Students with confidence in their abilities chose the Third Dormitory.

And students eager to grow, including those in dual classes, leaned toward the First Dormitory.

As small groups discussed their choices, a sharp voice rang out from the garden—it was Emio Luchan.

He was confronting Abad.

“I don’t get what you’re saying.”

Abad responded with his usual calm smile.

“Exactly. I don’t understand your behavior either.”

Emio, arms crossed, gestured toward Eliana.

“You invite someone like her to your dorm but don’t say a word to me? Didn’t you say you wanted to become the best dormitory by defeating Leo Plov? Yet all the Third Dorm seems to be gathering is trash.”

“Hey, who are you calling trash?”

Stuck between the two and not knowing what to do, Eliana’s voice turned hostile.

“Oh? So you think you’re that strong?”

“Guess being one of the top-ranked students in the Magic Department made you blind, huh? You wanna see how strong I am? I could stomp you into that garden trash bin right now.”

Eliana smiled coldly and spat out her words.

Though usually reckless and a bit clumsy because of her overly aggressive personality, Eliana was undeniably one of the most powerful students in the second year.

There was no way she’d let a comment like that slide.

“Such arrogance.”

“Wanna go right now?”

As Emio prepared to raise his magic power, Eliana lowered her stance with a chilling grin—

“Don’t fight outside.”

“Ugh?”

Leo slipped a hand under her arm and lifted Eliana off the ground.

Caught off guard by Leo’s sudden and silent approach, Eliana frantically dispersed her aura and mana.

“Tch.”

Emio widened his eyes at the staff now pointed at the back of his neck and looked toward Abad.

“Starting trouble before the semester even officially begins? That’s not a good look.”

Abad still smiled gently, but his eyes were icy.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Emio walked away.

“Class rep. Put me down.”

When Leo let go, Eliana fanned her flushed face.

“You could’ve just stopped me with words. Why’d you have to freak me out by lifting me like that?”

“Because otherwise, you really would’ve fought.”

Eliana looked ready to charge at Emio again, aura and mana flaring regardless of Leo or Abad’s attempts to calm her.

“So, what’s going on?”

“Hmph! Probably just jealous that no one’s asked him to join any dorms, while I keep getting invited everywhere.”

She scoffed with her arms crossed.

And she was right.

All the dorms had extended invitations to Eliana.

“But why haven’t you chosen a dorm yet?”

“I want to join the First Dorm because you’re there… but I also want to go to the Second Dorm where Chelsea and Nella are… and the Third Dorm because Carr and Tide are there too…”

Eliana’s shoulders slumped with a gloomy expression.

Back in Class 1-5, the six students she had been closest with had all split into different dorms.

“Join our dorm. We need you. Most of the dual class students came to us, so it’s a great environment for a Magic Swordsman like you.”

“Ah! Did the class rep just court me?!”

“We need you too, Eliana. You have talent in both magic and aura. Duran and I can help you hone those.”

“Ugh! Even Abad is courting me passionately…! Yes! This is the thrill! The top two most popular guys in school clinging to me!”

Eliana shivered in delight at the attention.

Leo, staring at her dark and twisted thoughts, muttered to Abad—

“You take her.”

“We don’t want her either.”

With that, Leo and Abad left.

Eliana flinched.

“Okay! I’ll choose! I’ll go with whoever talks to me first from now!”

But the two didn’t look back.

Panicking, Eliana ran after Leo.

“Wait! Class rep! I’ll join your dorm! Stop right there!”

For a Magic Swordsman like Eliana, joining the First Dorm with Leo was the most ideal.

But Leo never looked back.

In the end, Eliana clung to Leo’s ankle and pleaded.

“I’m sorry I was playing around! Class rep! I’ll join your dorm, so please forgive me! No—please let me join! Please, class rep! Leo! President! I’m begging you!”

—

Though it had been empty on day one, the First Dormitory was now bustling with life.

In the once desolate lounge, students’ belongings began filling the space one by one.

Then—

Knock knock

There was a small knock at the dorm’s front door.

“Who is it?” a student from the Knights Department opened the door with a puzzled look.

He was surprised to see who was there.

“Assistant Professor Sena?”

It was Sena Tillia, who had assisted Professor Harrid with Class 1-5.

“Nice to see you, students of the First Dorm.”

She stepped inside and greeted them.

“Professor Sena!”

“Great to see you!”

“What brings you here?”

Led by Eliana, the Class 5 students greeted her brightly.

Sena covered her mouth and chuckled.

“Starting today, I’ll be serving as the supervising professor for the First Dormitory. I’m Sena Tillia. I look forward to working with all of you.”

“Ooh!”

“Nice to meet you!”

Sena was popular even among students from other classes.

She was beautiful, had a kind personality, and had often helped students when Professor Harrid scolded them.

Hearing that she would be their dorm’s supervisor, the students welcomed her with open arms.

“Let’s all get along well for the next year.”

“Same to you!”

With a bright smile, Sena cleared her throat.

“Ahem! Now for the announcements. Since the dorm rosters are finalized, it’s time to give your dormitory a name.”

“A name for the dorm?”

“Yes. Calling it by a number feels too stiff, doesn’t it? Let’s come up with a cool name that represents this dorm.”

“Ooh…”

“And you all know there’s an entrance ceremony tomorrow, right? It’s the day you officially become upperclassmen.”

At Sena’s words, the students’ expressions lit up.

Upperclassmen!

What an exciting word!

For the past year, they’d looked up to their seniors, helped them, and run errands.

To the first-years, seniors had been objects of admiration.

They had become Hero Candidates before them and endured the rigorous academic life.

It was only natural to develop respect for them.

“Heh. Finally, I’m a senior.”

“I’m going to spoil all the underclassmen!”

“So this is how the third-years felt.”

Seeing the excited students, Sena smiled softly.

“And on that note, there will be a welcome banquet after the entrance ceremony tomorrow.”

The students froze.

Was there a welcome banquet when they entered?

There wasn’t.

In fact, many of them never even got to speak to a senior until well into the first semester.

At Lumene, senior-junior relationships tended to be hierarchical.

Especially in the Summoning Department, where the pecking order was very rigid.

But a welcome banquet for underclassmen?

“The first-years are already plenty intimidated after watching you during the second-year entrance exam, right? Some of them even got familiar during last year’s joint classes. Is there really a need for such stiff senior-junior dynamics? The new principal hopes that, by greeting them warmly, you’ll help the first-years adapt better to academy life.”

“Hmm.”

“I was honestly terrified of the second-years when I was a first-year.”

“I kinda liked being revered, but hanging out with the underclassmen might be fun too.”

“Yeah. Some of the first-years looked pretty promising during the entrance exam, remember?”

The students nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Sena recalled what the principal had said.

‘If things go the usual way, most of the first-years won’t even last—they’ll drop out.’

During a faculty meeting, Leena had spoken calmly.

‘The current second-years… their reputation is too massive. On top of that, their skills are overwhelming. Which generation will they be compared to most? The one above them, and the one below them.’

Leena rested her chin in her hand.

‘The seniors above them still have it better. But the juniors? Constant comparisons will crush them. That’s why I want us to build a more friendly environment than usual this year.’

After hearing all this, Leo chuckled.

‘Whoever the new principal is… they’re wise.’

“So tomorrow, when you meet the first-years, please greet them warmly. That’s all.”

After giving the announcements, Sena called Leo and Chloe.

“And Leo, Chloe—please come with me for a moment.”

Leo and Chloe followed her out of the dorm with puzzled expressions.

In the garden, Sena explained.

“I called you out because of Chen Xia.”

“I was wondering, too. When is Xia coming back? It’s been a week since school started, and she’s still not here.”

Chloe asked with concern, and Sena gave a troubled smile.

“Apparently, Chen Xia’s family situation is more complicated than expected. The school has been trying to contact them, but there’s been no response.”

Chloe looked shocked at Sena’s explanation.

“She might end up withdrawing from school, so the dormitory leaders in the Knights Department should keep that in mind.”

“What?”

Chloe’s eyes widened.

Leo furrowed his brow.

‘Withdraw?’

—

Shhhhhhh—

A regular steamboat connecting Lumene and Lumeria City cut across the lake.

Onboard were the new students.

Various foods from different cultures were laid out buffet-style on the deck.

The noble students were enjoying the feast.

“This is so Lumene.”

“Heh. I feel like a spectacular school life awaits us.”

The nobles all wore satisfied expressions.

Having lived lives of privilege, they took all of this for granted.

“Still, that professor from Lumene…”

“No one knows her name. How did she even become a professor here?”

“Isn’t she just some backdoor hire?”

Some students blatantly stared at the woman sitting at the side of the deck, wearing a gentle smile.

She had radiant silver hair and stunning beauty.

Her only notable feature was the eyepatch over her left eye.

Aside from being called a professor at Lumene, she had no fame or recognition, so the new students whispered suspiciously.

Then the woman stood up.

“Are you all enjoying the boat trip?”

“It’s not bad.”

“Feels like a fitting event for us.”

A few students replied proudly.

She smiled gently at them.

“That’s good to hear. But before that… I have an announcement.”

All the students turned to look at the professor with curious faces.

“Normally at Lumene, there are top students chosen from each region: Central, West, East, South, and North. But as you know, this year’s admissions were held as a unified exam. So there are no regional top scorers.”

The new students nodded.

“As a result, no student representative has been selected either.”

At that, some students glanced toward others.

Students who were well-known and strong enough to be potential representatives.

“What are you getting at, professor?”

Juen, a strong representative candidate from the northern magic tower, smiled challengingly.

“So, I thought we’d select the new student representative right now.”

Whispers—!

A stir ran through the new students.

“How exactly do you plan to choose the representative here?”

“Of course, by strength. Makes sense, right?”

“W-what…?”

Lifting her index finger, the Lumene professor smiled brightly.

“From this moment on—fight each other.”