Chapter 307

               

Len Hors.

He had been famous since his student days at Lumene as a prodigy in magic.
Though he never achieved the public fame of those listed in the [Hero Record]—owing to his lack of dungeon raids and external exploits—within the magical academia, his reputation and influence far surpassed that of many heroic magicians.

He had formulated countless groundbreaking magical theories and published numerous papers, earning recognition for his genius.
At a young age, he became a professor at Lumene, the Hero Academy, and within a few years was hailed as its finest instructor in the Magic Department.

Len firmly believed that the second-year students—known as the Golden Generation—would become his greatest disciples.

Among them, Chloe Mueller and Abad Lewellin from the Magic Department stood out as especially gifted.
Even Chelsea Lewellin’s wit and talent had captured his admiration.

And then there was Leo Plov.
Leo wasn’t just a student who learned quickly—he evolved.
He absorbed everything he encountered and made it his own.

Len believed without a doubt that Leo would become the greatest magician since Luna Lubinence, Founder of the Nebula.

But then—
Then this happened.

‘How could I—of all people—miss the most important event for the second-years, the Smith Contract Ceremony?!’

It was a devastating blow.
He had prided himself on knowing his students better than anyone.
He had been confident in his closeness to them, offering advice freely.
And yet… he had been upstaged—by a newly appointed teacher.

For two weeks since that day, Len had assigned self-study to the first-years and desperately awaited the second-years’ return.
He hoped his beloved students would come to him for guidance in crafting their magic staves.
He wanted to hear them say it—
“That’s why we need Professor Len!”

But instead…

> “It’s a good thing Professor Melina was there. She gave us advice I’d never even thought of.”
> “She’s not even our instructor, but she understands us perfectly and offers just the right feedback.”
> “Right? And she brings cookies, too. The first-years must be lucky, getting those delicious cookies every class!”

The conversation between Chloe, Chelsea, and Eliana struck Len like a thunderbolt.

“So the second-years don’t need me anymore! Hahaha! In the end, Professor Melina’s the better teacher! No wonder my students envy the first-years! Ahahahahahahaha! Waaaaahhhh!”

Len threw back his head and burst into manic laughter—then collapsed onto his desk, sobbing uncontrollably.

Watching the scene, Anna pressed her fingers to her temple.

“Professor Len, how many times do I have to say this? The girls only envy the first-years because of Professor Melina’s cookies. The second-years still need you.”
“So I’m a teacher worth less than a cookie!”
“How many times must I explain before you understand?!”
“Bwaaaah! Assistant Professor Anna! You’ll abandon me for Professor Melina too, won’t you?!”
“Why would I abandon you, Professor Len? I respect you.”

Anna gave a weary smile, trying to calm him down.
“I’ve always wanted to work under you.”
“Assistant Professor Anna…”

Len looked up at her tearfully.
“So you’ve decided to live as an old maid forever, have you? Well, with your personality, that’s not surprising…”

Anna’s expression went cold as she flipped an empty bottle upside down.

Alarmed, Luke Elda grabbed her arm.
“P-Please calm down!”
“Let go. I’ll kill him.”

Luke barely managed to restrain her as she radiated icy fury.

“As you can see,” Anna muttered after regaining her composure, rubbing her forehead, “this is his current state.”

Leo sighed softly.
“Professor Len.”
“Leo…?”

Len looked up at him weakly.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to seek your advice.”
“Advice? From me?” Len gave a bitter laugh.
“Wouldn’t it be better to ask Professor Melina? She’s clearly superior.”
“Maybe so.”

Anna’s eyes widened in dismay.
Given how fragile Len’s confidence already was, that remark could have crushed him.

“Indeed,” Leo continued, “Professor Melina is excellent at teaching and connecting with students.”

“Uuuhuhu… yes! As an educator, she’s a level above me! Huhuhuhu!”

Of course she was.
No matter how brilliant Len was, his rival was none other than a Dragon Lord.
Their years of experience were incomparable.

Leo looked at him steadily.
“But I believe your experience as a researcher is what the second-years need most, Professor.”
“……!”
“A teacher’s role isn’t just to instruct. It’s also to pave the path for their students.”

He wasn’t flattering him.
Melina might have been the better educator, but Len was unmatched in magical theory and innovation.
Even Leo’s own ‘Introduction to Star Magic’—created using his [Bible of the Stars]—was proof of Len’s brilliance.

‘Luna would’ve loved it,’ Leo thought to himself.

Len lowered his head and began trembling.

Crash! Clatter! Shatter!

He suddenly swept the bottles off his desk with a roar.
“Of course! How foolish I’ve been!”

His eyes burned with manic fire.
“To think I wasted two whole weeks wallowing in self-pity! I still have far to go! Hahahahaha! Leo! You’ve opened my eyes! Hahahahahaha!”

He grabbed his face, laughing wildly.

Luke flinched.
“I-Is he okay?”
“…Doesn’t look it,” Anna replied coldly. “But it’s better than him being a drunk mess.”

Then she turned to Leo and smiled faintly.
“Thank you, Leo. You’ve brought him back to life.”
“I have a friend who’s very similar to Professor Len in temperament when it comes to magic.”
“We have another crazy—or rather, mentally unstable—student like him here?”
“Not from our academy.”
“Then I don’t want to meet them.”

Anna shook her head. Of course, Leo meant Luna Lubinence.

Then Len boomed,
“So, Leo! What did you want to consult me about?!”

Leo stepped aside and brought Luke forward.
“This student.”

“Hm? A first-year? And from the Knight Department, I see.”

Len frowned slightly.
“Why?”

“He has talent as a magician.”

“Oh?”

Len stroked his chin as Anna began magically restoring the trashed office.
The bottles reassembled, refilling themselves neatly.

Watching in awe, Luke muttered, “Magic is amazing.”

“Oho! For a Knight Department student, that’s an admirable remark,” Len said approvingly.

“Your name?”
“Luke Elda, sir.”
“Luke Elda. You seem clever enough for a knight. I’ll give you a lecture on magic.”

Clearing his throat, Len spread his arms dramatically.

“Magic is the act of understanding the universal laws of existence—and intervening in them! We magicians are great explorers of truth! Do you know why the stars shine in the sky?”

“Um… because they shine?”

“Because they shine, you say? Philosophical! Excellent! Now, your disposition seems to be—”

“Yes, yes, that’s enough. If you start your magic introduction speech, we’ll never leave today.”

Anna poked him with a broom she held by the handle. The broom then floated away to clean on its own.

Len crossed his arms.

“Alright. So he’s got the aptitude for magic. And?”

“I’d like to discuss how to introduce him to magic in a way that suits his [Mana Traits].”

“Hoh? Then he must have quite an unusual mana type. What is it?”

“He’s a [Natural Mana Amplifier].”

“What?”

Len’s eyes widened. Anna’s did too.

“This boy can amplify his mana based on his emotions.”

“Can you show me?”

At Len’s request, Luke hesitated, then drew up his aura.

Humm—!

The air vibrated as his aura swelled dramatically.

“So it grows stronger when his emotions intensify?”

“Yes.”

“Incredible! Truly incredible! Does this apply to magic power as well?”

“He hasn’t awakened his mana yet, but I believe it will.”

“Magnificent!”

Len’s eyes gleamed.
The ability to freely amplify mana—it was every magician’s dream.

“But awakening mana won’t be easy,” Anna noted. “Especially since he’s already trained his aura.”

Leo smiled faintly.

“No need to worry. He awakened his aura on his own—without a proper technique. His mana sensitivity is high enough.”

“…He got into Lumene by self-training?”

“I was lucky,” Luke said awkwardly, scratching his head.

Len nodded slowly.

“I see. Then it’s settled.”

He clapped his hands.

“Luke, you’re quitting the Knight Department.”
“Eh?”
“You’re transferring to the Magic Department.”
“W-What?”
“You’d waste such an astounding gift as a mere knight?!”
“Hiiik!”

Luke flinched as Len’s eyes blazed with fervor.
“Your power is something all magicians dream of! You can’t rot away in that sweat-stained Knight Department! Quit immediately! Join us and study your mana with me!”
“T-That’s…”
“Hahahaha! How exciting! A new research subject! Wonderful! Let’s awaken your mana right now!”

As Len spiraled into mania again, Anna sighed.
“I understand your intention, Leo. Professor Len seems captivated by Luke’s mana trait. He’ll research how Luke should study magic to maximize it.”

She gave Leo a knowing look.
“Clever, aren’t you?”
“I simply trust Professor Len’s passion as a magician.”
“Of course. Just…”

She exhaled heavily.
“If you stay any longer, he might try dissecting Luke to study him, so you’d better leave for today.”

Luke chuckled awkwardly.
“Ahaha, that’s a funny joke.”
But Anna didn’t laugh.
“With him, it’s not a joke.”

Luke’s face went pale.

—

The next day.

Combat Studies Joint Class.

Second-year students assembled by dormitory at the training grounds.
Today’s instructor was none other than Professor Harrid Edmond.

With his usual indifferent expression, he addressed them.
“Professor Sedgen is occupied, so I’ll be filling in. Today, I’ll announce the format for the midterm Combat Studies exam.”

The students began murmuring in anticipation.

“This midterm practical will encompass all physical exams. In short, Combat Studies will be the only practical test.”

“So… like last year’s [World of Heroes] conquest?” asked Eliana, raising her hand.

It was a common format in their first year.

“No. This time, it’s a [Mock Battle].”
“A mock battle?”
“Yes.”

Harrid looked over the puzzled second-years and declared,
“It will be a large-scale [Dormitory War–Style Mock Battle].”

The second-years’ eyes widened in shock.