Chapter 269
“The specific specs of the weapons we’ll be using?”
“Hmm… I’ve never really thought about that.”
The students of Lumene looked troubled.
Even the top students from each department wore awkward expressions.
“I know roughly about the specs of the staff I use.”
Chelsea pulled a staff from her robes.
While Abad and Chloe used long staves nearly as tall as themselves, Chelsea’s main weapon was a short staff of about thirty centimeters.
Of course, since each type of staff had its own pros and cons, Chelsea also had a long staff for different uses.
Carr clasped his hands behind his head and spoke.
“The one you use most often is a relic of the Lewellin family, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right. It’s ‘Flamen’, the staff used by the fifth head of the family.”
‘Flamen.’
It was classified at the same grade as Celia’s treasured sword ‘Flame Storm.’
Weapons were divided into five major grades:
[Normal], [Magic], [Heroic], [Legendary],
and finally, [Divine Relic].
[Normal] weapons were made of steel forged by ordinary smiths.
They were the most common and held no special powers.
From [Magic] grade onward, weapons were crafted by blacksmiths proficient in magical engineering.
They were created through special processes involving magical techniques, or forged with mana-infused materials.
[Heroic] weapons possessed powers beyond the magical grade, used by individuals of hero-level caliber.
Above that, [Legendary] weapons were those recorded in the Hero Record.
And at the pinnacle—[Divine Relics].
Weapons forged by the hands of the gods.
In history, the only one who could craft [Divine Relics] was none other than the Divine Blacksmith, Dweno.
Celia’s ‘Flame Storm’ and Chelsea’s ‘Flamen’ were both [Legendary] grade.
They were symbols of the Zerdinger and Lewellin families.
“Every time I see it, I can’t help but feel jealous.”
Carr looked at ‘Flamen’ with admiration.
It was the kind of weapon that even a lifelong magician could rarely hope to see, let alone own.
“Come to think of it, there are four of us in our year with Legendary weapons, right?”
From prestigious Heroic Houses: Celia, Abad, Chelsea, and Eliza.
The Zerdinger, Lewellin, and Hergin families stood apart from the rest with their history and renown.
Even Duran, with his talent, had no [Legendary] weapons in his family due to their shorter lineage.
‘Sometimes I really wonder how I ended up being friends with these people.’
As Carr clicked his tongue in disbelief—
Chloe asked,
“With a staff that powerful, don’t you technically not need another?”
“That’s not entirely true. ‘Flamen’ is powerful, yes, but it’s not all-purpose. It pairs well with my specialty, wind magic, but doesn’t work well with other types.”
Chelsea pouted.
“It’s a staff stronger than any other, but because of that, I can’t wield it perfectly. I have to adjust myself to the staff, rather than it adapting to me. That’s why I need a staff customized to me.”
The stronger the weapon, the harder it was to control.
Though Chelsea was a talented magician, she was still an inexperienced fifteen-year-old.
Though she was the master of ‘Flamen’, she couldn’t yet fully wield its power.
The same was true for Celia, Abad, and Eliza.
“But really, do we need to know so much detail about our staffs just to request one?”
“Yeah. Smith Depeto’s words made it sound like understanding the weapon itself is just as important as knowing the specs.”
At Chelsea’s words, Chloe nodded in agreement.
“You do need to know.”
It was Leo, who had stepped over to the Magic Department students.
Carr tilted his head.
“And what’s the benefit of knowing?”
“The benefit is immense.”
At Leo’s words, Emio, listening from a distance, smirked.
“Why don’t we hear just how beneficial it is from the student council president?”
“Ugh, there he goes again.”
Chelsea scowled.
Emio’s face twisted into hostility.
“Are you picking a fight?”
“You started it.”
Chelsea stuck out her tongue.
“Come on, enough. Let’s just hear him out.”
Abad stepped in between them.
“Hmph!”
Chelsea snorted, while Emio turned away with a scowl.
“Leo, can you explain?”
At Abad’s request, Leo pulled a piece of ore from his robes.
“Mithril?”
Carr, skilled in alchemy, recognized it immediately.
“Yeah. I borrowed it from Smith Depeto.”
Leo tossed the unrefined mithril ore lightly in his hand.
“Since Lumene students learn the basics of magical engineering, I won’t explain mithril’s properties.”
“Its mana conductivity is high, and it amplifies mana.”
“Right. That’s why it’s the most commonly used material for staves.”
“Please. Everyone knows that. Is that all you came to say?”
At Emio’s sneer, Leo tossed the mithril ore at him.
Thock!
“What do you want me to do with this?”
“Can you enchant it?”
Scoffing, Emio cast an enchantment spell.
Fwoosh—!
The ore flared with flames, and gasps arose from the onlookers.
Not because it was enchanted—
‘There’s barely any mana loss?’
‘Even with mithril, low-purity ore usually leaks mana when enchanted.’
Without excellent control, it was impossible.
Most of the Magic Department students here would’ve experienced mana loss using such impure ore.
‘So mithril’s amplification can minimize mana loss, impurities or not.’
“And what’s the point of giving me such a trivial task?”
Emio tossed the enchanted ore back.
Thock.
Leo caught it easily—and Emio’s enchantment vanished instantly.
“Impressive. But you didn’t fully bring out mithril’s properties.”
“Are you criticizing my spell?”
“Not criticizing. Just pointing out what was lacking.”
Fwoosh—!
“……!”
Emio’s eyes widened.
Leo had enchanted the ore, and the flame burned with far greater intensity than Emio’s.
The spell and mana used were identical.
Yet Leo’s enchantment was overwhelmingly stronger.
“Some special trick? Cheap illusion.”
“Unfortunately, it was the exact same spell you used.”
Leo held up the blazing ore.
It was clearly the same enchantment.
Emio scowled.
Chloe’s eyes widened.
“How did you do that?”
“By drawing out mithril’s amplification property.”
“But isn’t that nearly impossible with impure ore?”
Chloe’s eyes shone with curiosity.
“It’s difficult. But as long as you know the mithril content, it’s possible.”
Leo dispelled the magic.
“It’s the same with weapons. If you know what material it’s made from and its properties, you can wield it more freely. That applies to knights, mages, and summoners alike.”
At his words, Chelsea raised her hand.
“But Leo, we already wield our staves freely, don’t we? Don’t we all use our weapons to 100% of their ability?”
The students nodded.
But Abad and Chloe, after some thought, spoke.
“We may use them fully, but has anyone truly pushed them to the extreme?”
Chelsea faltered.
“Well… no.”
“Right. Overuse would overload them.”
“But Leo just stably enchanted mithril ore.”
Chloe added,
“If you think of that ore as a staff, then he just pushed its abilities to the extreme without strain.”
The Magic Department students murmured.
Leo nodded.
“Exactly. It’s not really about magic technique. It’s about mastering your tools. Normally, it won’t matter much. But—”
Leo’s voice dropped flatly.
“In extreme situations, whether you can do it or not can mean life or death.”
The weight of the word ‘life’ silenced the room.
At that level, life-and-death struggles were beginning for second-years.
“To aim higher as hero candidates, mastering your weapon’s specs is essential.”
Abad murmured, and Leo nodded.
“Right. And smiths judge clients by the weapon they request. That alone tells them about your worth.”
“Who told you that?”
“A blacksmith I know.”
Leo smiled.
“I’ll go return this.”
With the ore in hand, he walked to Depeto.
The Magic Department students, inspired, began scribbling specs of their ideal weapons.
“What’s up with you, Abad?”
Carr asked, noticing Abad staring after Leo.
“Just… feeling the gap.”
Abad clenched and unclenched his fists.
‘It’s not a matter of talent.’
He stared at his hands.
‘It feels like a difference in experience.’
“Come on.”
Carr nudged him.
“You dragged me into your dorm because you wanted to beat Leo, remember? I was supposed to enjoy an easy school life in Leo’s dorm. You pulled me in, so don’t lose your nerve now!”
“You’re right.”
Abad gave a soft smile.
‘He really is ridiculously good-looking.’
Carr grimaced.
“So then, Carr. Do you know what weapon Leo plans to request?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Call it… a check on the enemy target.”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t using me as a spy?”
“It’s just friendly curiosity.”
Abad slung an arm around him.
Carr replied,
“I don’t know. I asked him, but he said he hadn’t prepared anything.”
“No way.”
Leo was the model student.
Abad found it hard to believe he’d come unprepared.
“Chloe. Do you know what Leo’s planning to request from Damienne?”
“He said he didn’t prepare anything.”
Chloe shook her head, equally confused.
Abad’s expression darkened.
‘What are you thinking?’
—
Two hours later, the presentations began.
Each school took turns.
The ones who faltered most were Lumene and Seiren.
They were used to academic presentations, not something this unfamiliar.
While they explained specs well enough, they stumbled hardest over materials.
Depeto nodded as he watched.
‘As expected. They’re grasping what Damienne wants from this.’
To understand one’s weapon meant to fully draw out its abilities.
‘There are many mighty weapons in this world.’
And plenty who were overwhelmed by them.
Most of those mighty weapons were forged in Damienne.
The students and graduates of Damienne.
Blacksmiths who inherited the legacy of the Divine Blacksmith Dweno endlessly strove to reach his realm.
‘A craftsman desires someone who can truly master his work.’
A weapon beyond its wielder’s ability was nothing but pearls before swine.
Most Damienne students felt this deeply.
Thus, they wanted users worthy of their ideals.
‘Especially these second-years—they’re exceptionally skilled.’
And their pride as smiths was all the greater for it.
‘Though there’s one eccentric among them…’
His gaze landed on a Damienne girl scribbling notes furiously.
‘Driana again… she’s critiquing the presenters instead of their weapons!’
With a sigh, Depeto rubbed his temples.
“Oh?”
At that moment, murmurs rose from the Damienne students.
A Lumene Magic Department boy was presenting.
‘A staff specialized for magic bullets, huh? The presenter… Carr Thomas?’
The concept was interesting.
‘Not for defeating enemies, but for hindering them. A supporter role? At his age, he’s already set his path.’
From the design of a weapon, one could tell the role its wielder sought.
A supporter—very rare among hero candidates.
The other schools looked unimpressed.
But the Damienne students’ eyes gleamed.
As smiths, ingenuity that stimulated their craftsmanship always drew fervent interest.
‘He even shows some grasp of material engineering… He’d be more a partner in creation than just a client.’
Depeto smiled in interest at Carr.
And not just him—the Damienne students were focused on Carr.
Meanwhile, the heavy-hitters began their presentations.
Naturally, their specs matched their caliber.
“An alloy of 70% adamantium, 15% mithril, 5% orichalcum, coated with black iron—battle axe.”
Azonia’s second-in-command, the giant beastkin Dion Den, laid out his demands perfectly.
Not just him—
Surprisingly, Azonia was handling the presentations best of all three schools.
Their demands were concise yet precise.
From the stage’s side, Celia crossed her arms.
“Unexpected. I didn’t think they’d present so perfectly.”
Beside her, Ar snorted.
“For a warrior, knowing your weapon is the basics of the basics!”
“True. That’s something to learn from.”
Celia nodded.
“By the way, I’ve got something to ask Black Rabbit.”
“Leo’s last. Your turn’s two after that. Ask him after.”
“His cousin is awfully strict.”
‘How long are you going to call Leo “Black Rabbit”? White Rabbit I could understand…’
The nickname grated on Celia.
At last, the presentations neared their end.
Leo, standing at the back with his arms crossed, studied the Damienne students’ serious faces.
‘Well, everyone wants their work to be wielded by someone worthy. Dweno was the same.’
Dweno had never cared much for simply making weapons.
But as a craftsman, he always displayed his nature—he only made weapons for those he deemed ‘qualified.’
On the first day he joined the subjugation force, he declared:
‘You are never to use any weapon not made by me.’
‘I use Polium, though?’
‘That’s a staff made by the gods themselves.’
Dweno glanced at Luna, then continued.
‘I may be an artist, but before that I’m a craftsman. I cannot allow those I’ve acknowledged to wield another craftsman’s work.’
He smirked.
‘If circumstances force you, then remember this: you are those I, Dweno, have acknowledged, and for whom I provide custom weapons. So…’
“Leo Plov.”
Finally, it was Leo’s turn.
Step— step—
He ascended the podium.
The unprecedented All-Class student drew the Damienne students’ eyes.
They were eager to see what weapon he would request.
And Leo said,
“I can wield any weapon to perfection.”
The Damienne students froze.
“So I just ask that you make me something good.”
All the students stared, dumbfounded.
This was supposed to be ‘their’ chance to evaluate the hero candidates.
But Leo had declared otherwise.
‘It is not you who will evaluate us. Anyone foolish enough to think so, I’ll smash your head in with a hammer!’
“The one doing the evaluating will be me.”
(T/N: Sheeeeeeeshhhh!)Chapter 269