Chapter 265
The mana bearing Dweno’s signature that had been stirring soon subsided.
Leo looked down at his hand and muttered.
‘I’ll have to check it later.’
Dweno’s mana reacting clearly meant there was something.
‘It wouldn’t be strange if weapons forged by Dweno were lying dormant in Damienne.’
After taking a look at the highest point of Damienne, Leo moved on.
Passing the statues of the great heroes, he entered the interior of Damienne.
Damienne was an old, massive castle that had stood for 5,000 years.
It was a structure that contained 5,000 years of dwarven history since the end of the Era of Calamity.
Architectural styles vary by era, region, and race.
And Damienne was characterized by its blend of all the world’s architectural styles, with repairs continuing each time architectural trends changed.
Because of that, the building designs within the walls were all different.
“It’s like we’ve come to a museum of buildings.”
Chloe said, her eyes sparkling.
“Isn’t it too all over the place? It doesn’t feel harmonious.”
Chelsea tilted her head.
It was true.
While being able to see architectural styles from multiple eras and regions at once was certainly an advantage, the mixture of styles gave it a strange feeling.
“That very confusion could be called Damienne’s aesthetic.”
Someone spoke then.
The students turned their eyes toward the voice.
A dwarf was smiling as he stroked his thick brown beard.
“It’s been a while, Depeto.”
“Good to see you, Professor Sedgen.”
At Sedgen’s greeting, Depeto burst into a hearty laugh and returned the greeting.
“Everyone, say hello. This smith here is the head smith for Damienne’s second-years.”
“Pleased to meet you, Sir Depeto!”
“Pleased to meet you!”
“I’m pleased as well, young hero candidates of Lumene. It’s an honor to see famed hero candidates like you. Now, come inside. Our second-years are waiting.”
At Depeto’s words, the Lumene students wore puzzled expressions.
‘The second-years are waiting for us?’
‘Could it be we’re choosing a smith as soon as we arrive?’
The Lumene students straightened their clothes with tense faces.
It felt bad to be evaluated with all the schools gathered.
But they couldn’t show it.
“Nervous?”
Chelsea giggled at Carr.
“Of course. An exclusive smith contract is extremely important for school life going forward.”
At Carr’s words, Chelsea covered her mouth and teased him.
“And you barely scraped by this semester?”
“Gah~ you’re poking where it hurts again.”
Carr clutched his chest and groaned.
“Hmph. Pointless antics, Carr Thomas.”
A mocking voice came from behind.
Carr blatantly stuck out his tongue and pulled a sour face, and Chelsea’s face twisted mercilessly.
The one who cut into their conversation was none other than Emio.
“You think Damienne’s students would even look at a dead-last like you?”
“That’s why I have to at least look good on the outside, right?”
When Carr spoke with a sly grin, Emio snorted.
“I don’t understand Abad either. Why he took someone as low-grade as you as first pick for the dorm.”
“Right. If I’d gone to Leo’s or Chelsea’s, I wouldn’t have to be tormented by a rude brat like you as much.”
Carr sighed as if regretful.
Normally Emio would have flown into a rage at those words, but now he only wore a deep sneer.
“Abad dragged you into the dorm because you’re Chelsea Lewellin’s best friend, no doubt.”
“Hmph! My brother isn’t someone who picks people for reasons like that. What’s wrong, are you that bitter you barely squeezed into Noble because no one else would take you?”
“You done talking!?”
“No! I’m not! Why!”
As Chelsea growled fiercely—
“Stop.”
Leo stepped between the two.
“This is another school. Don’t fight. And Emio.”
Leo looked at Emio with a chilly gaze.
“Refrain from belittling or dismissive remarks toward classmates.”
“Hmph, taking your friend’s side?”
“So what if I am? Want a duel?”
When Leo smiled coldly, Emio flinched.
Then he scowled and left.
“Argh! That son of a—! I’ll catch him and smash him to pieces!”
As Chelsea stomped the floor—thump! thump!—in irritation, Carr laughed.
“Hey, hey! Weren’t you going to use only pretty, polite words in front of Leo?”
“Ah!”
Chelsea jolted, covered her mouth, and widened her eyes.
Seeing Chelsea dart her big eyes around to check his reaction, Leo chuckled and patted her head, then headed toward Professor Sedgen in front.
As the class representative, he needed to stand at the head of the students.
As if her mood had lifted from Leo’s touch, Chelsea let out a hee-hee— laugh.
Shaking his head at the sight, Carr straightened his tie.
‘It’s frustrating, but it’s not wrong. Damienne’s students are unlikely to even look at someone like me at the bottom of the rankings.’
Damienne’s students would also want to choose someone they could see for as long as possible.
Since he’d taken Juen Torbina as his mentee, there was no worry about leaving the school during the first semester.
‘That kid Juen will of course advance smoothly through the second semester and even into the second year. But not me.’
If his final exam grades were awful, Carr’s school life at Lumene would end in the first semester of his second year.
‘Surviving up to the second year is a miracle in itself.’
His initial goal had been to survive somehow through the first semester of his first year.
‘Can’t be helped. I’m not Leo or Chloe or Chelsea.’
If other students had heard, they might have sneered.
In fact, many second-years did sneer at Carr.
A guy lucky enough to become friends with the top honor students of the second year.
A student who barely managed to survive into the second year thanks to that.
On top of that, this time he’d hooked the top prospect of the first-year Magic Department, Juen, as his mentee—a once-in-a-lifetime lucky dog.
Even among the first-years, there were students who sneered at Carr.
When he was young, he’d been praised as somewhat talented, but now he knew.
That he was an ordinary person not much different from others.
‘Being among true geniuses makes it all the more searingly clear. Still, I’ve made it this far.’
Carr took a mirror from his pocket, fixed his hair, and grinned.
‘And I’m curious how far I can go.’
Stowing the mirror back in his pocket, Carr composed his appearance.
Meanwhile, the Lumene students arrived before a massive door.
From inside came a thump- thump- and the boisterous clamor of noise.
Professor Sedgen opened the door.
Whoosh!
“We are the glorious heirs of Dweno! Raise a toast!”
“Raise it!”
“Enjoy this moment! Raise a toast!”
“Raise it!”
“Hahahahaha—!”
Inside, a boisterous party was in full swing.
In the vast hall, there were four long tables that looked like they could seat hundreds.
The tables were piled high with food.
On the side where the table hung with a banner embroidered with Damienne’s emblem of an anvil and hammer affixed to the ceiling, dwarves who appeared to be Damienne’s students were already noisily enjoying the party.
They climbed up on the tables, stomped their feet, danced together, and sang.
The festive merriment of a marketplace filled the entire hall.
As befit dwarves, alcohol was a must; Damienne’s students enjoyed the party with beer mugs filled to the brim raised high in their hands. Spotting the Lumene students coming in through the entrance with dumbfounded faces, they pointed and shouted.
“Look there! Friends from Lumene are here!”
“Woooooo!”
“Welcome to Damienne!”
The dwarves offered an enthusiastic welcome.
“Wait, didn’t they call us here to evaluate us?”
“What is this…?”
While some Lumene students wore confused expressions—
Several dwarves approached.
“Professors, please come this way. We’ve prepared seats.”
“You must be tired. Shall I take your coat?”
“We’ll carry your luggage.”
Damienne’s uniform was far more formal than those of Lumene, Seiren, and Azonia.
A black robe over a white shirt. A neat black necktie and black trousers.
Lastly, the black mortarboard was the highlight.
“Isn’t a mortarboard for graduation?”
“At Damienne, that’s part of the uniform.”
“Wow, wouldn’t that feel stuffy?”
“Who knows. I hear they hardly wear the uniform normally. Look, see?”
Many Damienne students wore the uniform sloppily.
The mortarboards for the head were piled up in a corner of Damienne’s area, rolling around on the floor.
Then a male student stepped forward.
Short in stature, like a dwarf.
But there was no beard on his face.
His face also had a very neat and cute impression.
“Oh my, isn’t that dwarf pretty cool and cute?”
“Right? I thought dwarves were all bearded uncles.”
The girls squealed.
The boys, looking at the Damienne girls merrily downing drinks, muttered.
“Pretty cute, huh?”
“How to put it, dwarves have their own charm.”
“Clank- clank-”
“Hey! ‘Clank-clank’ isn’t it.”
The boys snickered.
“Nice to meet you! My name is Digness. I’m the second-year top student at Damienne. You’re Leo Plov, right?”
Digness offered Leo his hand with a handsome smile.
“I’m Leo Plov. Nice to meet you too.”
Leo smiled and shook it.
“For the next two weeks, please take care of us! Your seats are here!”
With a cheerful laugh, Digness guided the Lumene students to their seats.
It was a place adorned with a banner embroidered with the crossed symbols of Lumene’s Knights Department sword, Magic Department staff, and Summoning Department amulet.
“Hey! What do you mean by ‘please take care of us’ for two weeks?”
“Is that about the smith contract?”
“How is it conducted?”
The Lumene girls, seemingly fond of Digness, giggled and asked.
“You’ll find out tomorrow. For today, we’ve prepared a welcome banquet for you, so please enjoy it.”
Watching Digness leave with a charming smile, Carr muttered.
“I thought dwarves were all burly machos, but there’s a cool guy like that too? He looks like the type to make a lot of girls cry.”
At Carr’s words, Chelsea tilted her head.
“He seems nice. How so?”
“Sure, sure. Little miss can’t sense it.”
“We’re only a year apart—are you going to keep treating me like a kid!?”
Chelsea kicked at Carr, but Carr nimbly dodged.
Meanwhile, the door opened and the Azonia students entered.
The Azonia students paused when they saw Lumene.
So did Lumene.
An awkward air flowed between the two schools, but only for a moment.
Just as they had with Lumene, the Damienne students smiled warmly and guided them to their seats.
Knowing that Damienne had assembled the Hero Academies to evaluate them, Azonia reacted similarly to Lumene.
But soon the mood shifted to enjoyment.
“Good to meet you, Professor Sedgen. I am Tigaan of Azonia.”
“Pleased to meet you, Instructor Tigaan. I am Sedgen.”
Professor Sedgen and Tigaan shook hands.
It was the first time the two had met.
“I must again apologize for the unfortunate incident this afternoon.”
“Students can be like that. Even our elegant students don’t mind that point.”
Professor Sedgen let out a heh— and spoke.
At that, Tigaan laughed heartily.
“Long time no see, Ain.”
“You came, Verga?”
Ain exchanged greetings with his longtime friend, Azonia’s instructor, Verga Tune.
“Ain. I have something to tell you regarding Reina’s son, Leo Plov.”
“Regarding Leo?”
Ain looked puzzled at his friend speaking out of the blue.
“What is it?”
“Send Leo Plov to our school as an exchange student.”