Chapter 254

“Hey, did you pick a mentee yet?”

“Yeah. Yesterday.”

Second-year lecture hall, in the main building.

Today was the day of the Heroics joint class.

Before class, the second-years had gathered in one place, chatting in their usual friend groups.

Naturally, the hot topic over the past few days had been the newly introduced mentor-mentee system.

And now, only one day remained before the selection period ended.

Most second-years who were interested in taking mentees had already chosen their first-year juniors.

“What about you? Didn’t you say yours was arrogant and annoying?”

“I did! But listen! At first, I thought they were full of themselves! But after chatting a bit yesterday, their eyes were sparkling—it was actually kind of cute?”

The second-years were absorbed in sharing stories about their new mentees.

Watching the cheerful chatter, Chelsea commented in surprise.

“The reactions are more positive than I expected.”

“Of course they are.”

“Huh? What do you mean, Leo?”

“Think back to when we were new students.”

Carr crossed his arms beside them.

“Did we even dare make eye contact with the upperclassmen back then?”

“Huh? They weren’t scary at all. They were actually really kind.”

“And this is why kids from Heroic Houses are so out of touch.”

Carr made a grimace.

Chelsea, who had been tapping her chin with her finger, nodded.

“That’s true. Our classmates were pretty terrified of the upperclassmen.”

The Summoning Department had the strictest seniority system.

But even in other departments, it wasn’t uncommon for first-years to be too afraid to even speak to their seniors early in the semester.

“New students are overwhelmed trying to adjust, and second-years don’t see the point of getting close to first-years who might be expelled at any moment.”

Carr leaned on his elbow.

“So aside from their classmates, they rarely get close to anyone. And in the worst cases, the different years end up with a terrible relationship. Just look at the fourth- and fifth-years. We’re not exactly friendly with the third-years either.”

At Lumene, it was common for the relationship between adjacent grades to be extremely strained.

The current fifth-years, led by the so-called Queen of Lumene, Elena, had a notorious rivalry with the fourth-years who rose to challenge their position.

It was the same for the second- and third-years.

Although the current second-year representative, Leo, got along well enough with Rhys, the third-year rep, most third-years viewed the “golden generation” of second-years as a threat.

Back in their first year, the current second-years had lived in fear of the upperclassmen.

But now, many of them harbored resentment toward the third-years.

“This mentoring program gives us a chance to get close to the first-years before that happens.”

At least for the first semester, they wouldn’t be separated.

So from the second-years’ perspective, it became easier to grow attached to the juniors.

“Kids naturally want to take care of someone younger when they hear the word ‘junior.'”

Leo chuckled, and Carr made a face.

“Aren’t you still a kid yourself?”

“Sometimes Leo talks like a middle-aged man.”

Chelsea shrugged.

“Class Rep! You can’t get too close to kids from other dorms! They might try to steal our dorm secrets!”

Eliana ran up and shouted.

Chelsea and Carr both looked unimpressed.

“How would anyone steal secrets from Leo?”

“Yeah, unless they’re as dumb as you.”

“Class Rep! They’re calling me dumb!”

Eliana whined as she clung to Leo.

“It’s true, though.”

“Tide! Not you too!”

“But it sure gets lively when we’re all together.”

Tide chimed in with a jab as he arrived, while Nella followed with her usual lazy smile.

The six core members of Class 5 had gathered in one place for the first time in a while.

“So, have you all picked your mentees?”

Tide asked with his arms crossed.

Eliana puffed herself up proudly.

“Of course! I chose someone named Austin!”

“Austin? Never heard of him.”

“Is he in the Knight Department or Magic?”

Nella and Tide tilted their heads.

Eliana, being in the upper tier of the second-years, could’ve easily chosen a famous first-year.

So it was surprising she picked someone unknown.

“He’s a Magic Swordsman. Hah! Prepare to be impressed—he’s one of the Class Rep’s knights, trained under Zerdinger!”

Eliana grinned smugly.

“If he looks like he’s about to get expelled, I bet the Class Rep will personally drag him through training.”

“How is it that she acts like an idiot most of the time but is sharp about things like this?”

Carr was impressed, and Eliana bristled.

“Hey! I’m smart! I’m an honors student!”

“Then why are you so dense?”

“Shut up, Carr!”

Eliana lunged at Carr, but Nella held her back.

Leo, watching it all, spoke up.

“Just so you know—I’m not giving any special treatment just because they’re part of my order.”

“Huh?!”

Eliana froze.

“I’ll give them advice, but their training is up to them. Austin probably wants to survive at Lumene on his own terms anyway.”

“Uwaaah!”

Eliana clutched her head and screamed.

The others ignored her and continued chatting.

“Nella, what about you?”

“I picked two from the Knight Department. What about you, Tide?”

“I took in one Summoner.”

Tide looked at the others.

“You three haven’t picked anyone yet, right? Carr, no one probably even wants you as a mentor.”

“Don’t talk about it. It hurts.”

Carr looked glum.

“Come to think of it, even some of the dorm leaders haven’t taken mentees.”

Nella looked curious.

“Well, the Class Rep’s been in the middle of chaos. Chloe said she’ll choose from the students who submit book reports today. Chen Xia supposedly took in several.”

Eliana answered, and Nella tilted her head.

“Chen Xia is a surprise. I thought after her background as a Shadow got revealed, she wouldn’t get any.”

“Yeah.”

‘Then again, most of those kids are probably Shadow trainees too.’

Leo thought silently.

“What about you guys, Chelsea?”

“I never planned on taking any. Celia’s being very selective. And Walden—”

Chelsea crossed her arms.

“A lot of students want him. Of course, I don’t think Walden cares either way.”

Walden’s use of spirits to activate magical formulas was revolutionary.

It was only possible due to his own talent and intuition—but without deep understanding of spirit arts, it was impossible to replicate.

So a lot of first-years majoring in spirit arts wanted him as a mentor.

“What about [Noble]?”

“My brother already took someone.”

“Abad? Who?”

Carr answered Eliana’s question.

“A guy named Fritz.”

“Never heard of him. Why’d he pick him? Is he strong?”

“He’s got skill, but the reason Abad took him is his magic.”

Carr explained.

“He uses blood as a medium for his magic.”

“Blood? That’s a rare trait.”

“Yup. That’s why Abad offered. Said he wanted to study it.”

‘Your trait is interesting. I’d like to research it. Would you like to be my mentee?’

‘Sure.’

Fritz, with his usual blank expression, had calmly adjusted his glasses and agreed.

“Hoooh. Interesting! What about Duran and Eliza?”

Carr shrugged.

“Our dear prince got tons of requests. But you know how picky he is. If no one meets his standards, he won’t even glance at them. And Eliza…”

Carr suddenly covered his mouth and snorted.

“No one’s asked her?”

“Not a single person? Not even to reject?”

Everyone looked surprised.

“Not surprising. Her personality is infamous.”

“But Duran’s just as bad, isn’t he?”

Chelsea tilted her head, confused.

Carr chuckled.

“Duran’s got a solid rep as a top student. But Eliza? Sure, her grades are great, but she’s a total delinquent. Who’d want to be her mentee? They’re scared she’d treat them like a servant. That’s why no one dares approach her. Puhahaha! She and I are practically in the same—”

Swish! Whack!

“Guh… cough!!”

A whip suddenly flew in and wrapped around Carr’s neck.

Everyone turned to the one holding it.

Eliza stood there, face red and shoulders trembling.

“Come with me.”

“H-help me!”

With eyes blazing, Eliza dragged the pale Carr away.

Moments later, a horrifying scream echoed through the halls.

“Leo, are you really not going to take any mentees?”

“Aren’t you worried about Carr?” Tide asked, dumbfounded.

Chelsea smiled sweetly.

“Carr’s annoyingly durable. He’ll be back in no time.”

Everyone nodded.

“Leo’s popularity’s dropped a lot, huh?”

At first, nearly every first-year tried to become Leo’s mentee.

But now, only a handful still dared.

Most had given up, thinking landing a valid hit was impossible.

“Only five still have the grit. If you’re planning to take any mentees, maybe it’s time to consider them?”

At Eliana’s words, Leo replied.

“I don’t need a mentee. They’re the ones who need me. If they want something, they should earn it themselves.”

“Yep. Totally agree.”

Chelsea nodded as the classroom door creaked open.

Someone entered, and the students quickly returned to their seats.

They turned to look.

A professor they’d never seen before walked in.

“Who’s that?”

“A new professor?”

She was stunning.

With rare silver hair and eyes.

Her presence was calm and comforting, exuding a serene atmosphere.

But the most striking feature was the eyepatch over her left eye.

“Professor Mel? What’s she doing here?”

Carr, still recovering from Eliza’s wrath, looked surprised.

Eliza paused, confused.

“You know her?”

“Yeah. Oof.”

Dusting himself off, Carr replied.

“She’s a professor for first-year Magic. Why is she teaching second-year Heroics?”

Standing at the podium, Mel smiled gently.

“Nice to meet you all. I’m Mel, the new professor for first-year Magic Theory and the special lecturer for Heroics across all years.”

Clap clap clap—

The second-years clapped with curious expressions.

It was unusual.

Lumene professors usually only taught one subject.

But she was teaching Magic Theory and special Heroics lectures for all grades?

‘How deep is her knowledge of Heroics?’

Everyone looked at her with intrigued eyes.

Heroics.

In this age of the Hero Record, it was one of the most important fields of study.

And the Hero Academy—Lumene—was the sacred ground for that discipline.

If someone had been specially invited to lecture there, their expertise had to be extraordinary.

Mel smiled and opened a dimensional pocket.

She placed a plate of cookies on the desk.

A sweet, nutty aroma filled the room.

The girls’ eyes sparkled as they stared at the cookie dish.

Their finely trained senses, honed by Lumene’s desserts, told them one thing.

‘Those cookies must be amazing.’

Mel pulled up a chair, sat down, and swung her legs.

“Anyone curious about me?”

Several students raised their hands at once.

“Yes, Duran Moira.”

Mel had already memorized every second-year’s face and name.

She smiled and called on Duran, who had raised his hand first.

“You mentioned a special Heroics lecture… what kind of heroes will you be teaching about?”

“I plan to teach about the heroes who rose during the Era of Genesis.”

Mel replied calmly.

But the second-years were stunned.

The Era of Genesis.

After the Great Heroes defeated Erebos, came the so-called Age of Heroes.

Even that age was split into early and late periods.

And between those—

There was a brief, almost mythical era: Genesis.

It was when the truth of the Hero’s World—the power behind the Hero Record—was revealed.

“W-wait! If you’re teaching about the Era of Genesis, then…!”

The Age of Heroes produced many legends.

But five were special.

The Genesis Heroes.

Only five ever existed, akin to the Great Heroes.

“That’s right.”

Mel smiled gently.

“I’ll be lecturing on the Dragon of Genesis, the Twilight Knight, the Comet Mage, the Great Warrior, and the Indomitable One.”

The second-years gulped.

Crunch—

Mel bit into a cookie and continued.

“For the first class, let’s begin with this school’s founder—The Twilight Knight, Lumene.”