Chapter 314
“Did you hear?”
“Yeah. About how the second-years have been staying out every night?”
“They said it’s for the dorm mock battle. Since the entire second-year class is participating, the scale must be massive.”
“When will we ever get to experience something that big?”
On Lumern’s first-year training ground, students chatted during a break in their combined Combat Studies class.
It was their first midterm exam since enrolling, and the first-years were overwhelmed.
Though the pressure wasn’t as intense as what the other grades faced, the first semester midterms for first-years at Lumern were still known as the “threshold of death.”
But this year was different. Unlike previous classes, no one would be recommended for expulsion before the end of the semester.
That meant the students had a bit of breathing room for once.
“Hmph. Doesn’t it feel like we’re just extras this time?”
Juen muttered under her breath with a pout.
Usually, first-year midterms took the spotlight. It was an event where all grades paid attention—new faces of Lumern showing off their skills to upperclassmen.
But this year, the spotlight belonged to the second-year midterm practicals.
It was such a grand event that even outside guests were allowed to watch.
People were already flooding into Lumeria City to see the full-scale battle of the so-called “Golden Generation.”
Fritz, one of Juen’s classmates, chuckled.
“Isn’t that only natural?”
“What?”
“In the face of Senior Leo’s radiant brilliance, it’s only natural for us to be overshadowed—”
“Yeah, yeah. My mistake for asking a Leo Plov fanatic.”
Juen sighed deeply.
“Anyway, why’d you become Senior Abad’s mentee? If you idolize Senior Leo that much, shouldn’t you be his mentee instead?”
“What did you just say?! How could a nobody like me dare to become Senior Leo’s mentee?! That would be blasphemy!”
“You’re seriously beyond saving.”
Juen shook her head in disbelief.
“Juen.”
“What?”
“Your mentor’s here.”
“Huh? Carr came?”
At her classmate’s words, Juen’s eyes widened—then she burst out laughing.
“Honestly, even when he’s busy, Carr always takes care of his cute junior.”
Standing proudly, she strutted toward the entrance of the training field.
Her classmates watched her enviously.
Carr Thomas was known as one of the most enthusiastic mentors among the second-years.
But that wasn’t the reason they envied her.
Even though Carr was caring, he was still the lowest-ranked among his year—a mentor most first-years avoided.
When Juen first chose Carr as her mentor, most of her peers thought she’d lost her mind.
People whispered that he was trying to make himself look good by picking a weak mentee.
But everything changed after Carr conquered Dweno’s World and returned with the legendary alchemist’s grimoire as a reward.
Now, he was seen very differently.
Juen walked lightly toward the gate—only to stop when she saw a crowd gathered there.
Among them stood Carr.
“Come one, come all! Carr’s General Store is open for business!”
He shouted like a street vendor, and the first-years stared at him curiously.
“From fatigue potions to help you study for exams, to candy! Portable practice targets for combat training! Sandbags! Snacks for familiars! Mana stones for spirits! You name it, I’ve got it!”
He laid out an assortment of items on a display table.
“There’s more! Emergency bombs! Throwing daggers! Antidote potions! Even emergency magic scrolls!”
“Ooooh!”
“That’s awesome!”
The first-years’ eyes sparkled.
“And best of all…”
Carr grinned, pulling out a deck of cards. The back bore the Lumern Academy emblem, and the front showed photos of second-year students.
“For my loyal customers—limited-edition handsome and beautiful senior cards!”
“Ooooh…”
“It’s Nella!”
“Wow! Senior Abad!”
The first-years’ eyes glittered.
“These are photos from their innocent first-year days!”
“Gulp…”
“I—I want one.”
The allure of rare senior photos was irresistible.
“Hmph. Pathetic.”
A cold voice cut through the excitement.
Haviden appeared, with Rickitt Brick by his side—the heir of the famed Birsen knight family, and someone who’d sparred with Carr last year.
“Senior Carr, what brings you to such a humble place?” Rickitt said with a smile.
Carr returned the grin. “Ah, even the noble heirs honor me with their presence.”
Haviden crossed his arms.
“Senior Carr. This is a first-year Combat Studies class break. Showing up like this disturbs the students’ rest.”
“You’re just like your mentor. You look like someone who’d break the rules constantly, yet you follow them to the letter.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s a compliment. You’re the model honor student.”
Haviden frowned but didn’t reply further. It wasn’t just because Carr was an upperclassman—he genuinely respected him after last year’s events.
Still, he had to deal with this peddler interrupting class time.
‘The class representative, Aina, doesn’t care about things like this. Sasha and Juen sneak around breaking rules whenever it amuses them.’
Ironically, Haviden, one of the four most promising first-years, was also the most disciplined.
“In any case, please pack this up.”
“You’re so stiff.” Carr grumbled.
“I’ll call Professor Harrid.”
Carr stepped closer, sliding something into Haviden’s hand.
Haviden frowned—then froze.
It was a photo card of Chelsea Lewellin, smiling brightly in her uniform and flashing a peace sign.
“I’m just trying to make everyone happy, you know?”
“Tch…”
Haviden’s expression twisted in conflict.
Watching from afar, Juen scowled.
“Oh! Juen! Want to buy something?” Carr waved energetically at his mentee.
“Juen. He’s calling you,” Fritz said.
Juen replied coldly, “I don’t know that idiot.”
She turned away, but Carr pushed through the crowd toward her.
“Ah! You came to greet your mentor! How sweet!”
“Who are you?” Juen pretended not to know him, but Carr didn’t mind. He pulled something from his pocket.
“Here. Don’t sulk. Take this.”
“What’s this?”
“I made mana bullets.”
Juen specialized in long-range sniping magic. She often crafted her own mana rounds for her spells.
Carr had made custom bullets tailored to her mana pattern.
“They’re test rounds. Short-range types and elemental variants.”
“Oh? Not bad.”
“Of course. I’m your mentor.” Carr grinned.
Juen smiled brightly. “Thanks, Senior.”
With a cute expression, she clung to his arm.
“So, in that case~ could you give your adorable mentee a recovery potion too~?”
Her sweet, singsong plea made Carr beam and hand her a potion.
‘Hah! See that? My mentor brings recovery potions for his cute junior! Jealous?’
Juen smirked at her classmates and took a sip.
Carr extended his hand.
“…What?”
“That’ll be five shillings.”
“…You’re charging your cute junior?”
“Business is business. No refunds after drinking.”
Juen’s face twisted. “Can’t you give me a discount?”
“Nope. You’re the Tower Master’s daughter—you’re loaded.”
“Ugh!”
Juen reluctantly handed over the five shillings, pouting. Carr chuckled.
“So, you really came to sell things?”
Carr shook his pouch with a jingle. “Nah. I came to give you the test rounds.”
He grinned. “And to gather information.”
“Information?” Juen blinked.
‘What’s he plotting this time?’
That was exactly why she’d chosen him as her mentor—Carr had skills she lacked.
As the Tower Master’s daughter, Juen had received elite education her entire life, but not the kind of street smarts Carr possessed.
Watching him interact with the first-years, she realized something.
‘Wait. He knows exactly who everyone’s mentor is.’ (T/N: Damn! The perfect strategist.)
Her eyes widened.
Carr chatted naturally, guiding conversations toward second-year topics.
As break time neared its end, Juen approached him quietly.
“You’re gathering intel on the second-years through the first-years, aren’t you?”
Carr shrugged. “You caught that? Not quite yet. I’m just dropping bait.”
He grinned slyly.
“Mentors and mentees are close. They chat about their classes naturally. Some will probably mention the mock battle.”
If he’d asked directly about mock battle details, the first-years would’ve been cautious. But easing into conversation this way lowered their guard.
“Even if the info’s not much, it’s better than nothing, right?”
Carr winked.
“Senior, you actually look kind of cool today.”
“Heh. Took you long enough to notice. As a reward, I’ll discount the potion.”
“Half price?”
“No. Four shillings.”
Juen let out a dry laugh.
Then a cold voice echoed.
“So you’ve grown bolder since becoming a second-year, Carr Thomas.”
Carr’s face turned pale.
“Combat Studies is a physically demanding class. And you dare disrupt it during break time? You’ve grown quite bold indeed.”
Carr turned his head, trembling.
Professor Harrid stood there, wearing a chilling smile.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, Professor Harrid! I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry!”
Carr bowed repeatedly at ninety degrees, his back nearly folding in half.
The first-years snickered at the sight.
Juen turned away.
“Juen, what were you talking about with Carr?”
“Carr? Who’s that? Never heard of him.”
Juen answered coldly, pretending not to know a thing.