Chapter 339
That afternoon.
In Seiren’s lower-class classroom, Leo was preparing for the next lesson.
Like Lumene, Seiren didn’t consist only of major-related courses. There were also general subjects. Among them, the most important was Martial Magic Studies—the equivalent of Combat Studies in Lumene.
The only difference was that Seiren, being devoted to Star Magic, emphasized combat applications of Star Magic techniques.
The lower-class students were visibly eager.
Even those who normally skipped or half-heartedly attended other lectures were all present for magic-related lessons. Not one was missing.
Everyone’s faces burned with motivation.
‘If someone saw them now, they’d think this was the top class.’
Leo rested his chin on his hand, thinking.
‘Alright. So how exactly do I fix Seiren?’
If he were a member of Seiren, he could slowly reform the system from within, no matter how long it took.
But Leo was an outsider.
‘There’s only so much I can ask Mel to handle.’
The Dragon Lord had immense influence over all Hero Academies, but direct involvement in their internal affairs had limits.
‘The best way would be to show everyone—publicly—that Seiren’s current methods are wrong.’
He was still thinking that when—
Clack—!
The classroom door burst open, and Laura hurried in.
“Everyone! Get ready to head out!”
Her sudden announcement made the students stare wide-eyed.
“Today we’ll be having a Martial Magic practical lesson!”
“Really?!”
“At the training hall?!”
The students looked at her in disbelief.
“Yes! We finally received permission today!”
“Wow!”
“We’re finally doing practical training!”
Cheers erupted around the room.
Leo blinked, confused by the overjoyed reaction.
“Why are they reacting like that?”
“Lyle, you don’t know?”
Anri, sitting beside him, gave a wry smile.
“Our lower class has never had a Martial Magic practical before.”
“You’ve only studied theory all this time?”
“Yeah. That’s why this is amazing! We finally get to test the Star Magic we’ve been learning! You know how theory alone only goes so far!”
Indeed, in magic research, practical experience was essential.
Even if one mastered complicated formulas or created new spells, the only way to know whether they actually worked—or suited one’s mana flow—was through real use.
And as in Lumene, students were forbidden by school rules from performing attack-magic experiments outside designated facilities. It was too dangerous.
‘No matter how deep I dig, it’s discrimination all the way down.’
Leo sighed and stood up.
The lower-class students, full of excitement, followed Laura toward the practice hall.
—
Outside, cutting through the cold northern air, they arrived at the outdoor training facility.
The Star Magic training ground was truly a marvel—a gathering of countless magical devices.
Inside, it was warm like spring.
There were enchanted scarecrows for testing firepower and golems to assist with mock battles.
It had everything a mage needed for combat practice.
‘The system’s even better than Lumene’s.’
Leo rubbed his chin in thought.
The facilities weren’t just useful for mages but for knights and summoners as well. Truly worthy of the academy known for having the most advanced magic among the four schools.
The lower-class students couldn’t hide their awe.
Then—
“You’re here, lower class.”
“Professor Ortren?”
Laura’s expression stiffened as she saw Ortren, the homeroom teacher of the first-year advanced class.
“When I asked the office, they said our class was cleared to use the hall. Why is Advanced Class 1 here?”
Ortren chuckled.
“Oh, they didn’t inform you? The hall was reserved for our class all afternoon. But, feeling pity for your students, I graciously allowed a joint session. Be grateful, lower-class students.”
Laura’s face hardened.
“To think you’d show such generosity to our class… I don’t know how to thank you. But our presence will only disrupt your students’ lesson. Perhaps we should—”
“What? Miss Laura, no! We finally got this chance!”
“Can’t we just train together?”
Voices of protest filled the group.
The students, starved for practical experience, didn’t want to lose this rare opportunity.
“Miss Laura,” Ortren said smoothly, “your students clearly want this. Are you still going to walk away?”
Laura clenched her teeth.
‘Your intentions are obvious.’
He wasn’t here out of kindness. Ortren, a staunch elitist, wanted to humiliate the lower class—show them the gap between them and the top students.
“Lower-class students,” Ortren announced, spreading his arms.
“Today’s lesson will be a duel between your class and Advanced Class 1.”
The students’ eyes went wide.
“If you win, it will prove that you deserve to be in the advanced class. I’ll personally promote the winner!”
It was an enticing offer.
But soon, the students clenched their fists.
Most of them hadn’t accepted being labeled “lower class.” Their Star Magic proficiency might be lacking, but their overall combat skills rivaled—or even surpassed—their upper peers.
Anri’s hands tightened around her spear.
“Advanced class…”
“Since this is a Martial Magic class,” Ortren continued, “there’s only one rule—duels will be fought using Star Magic only!”
The students froze.
“O-only Star Magic?”
“So, a pure magic duel?”
“Exactly.”
“Professor Ortren! My specialty is Summoning!”
The student who spoke—Verus—was one of the strongest among the lower-class summoning majors.
At his words, Ortren’s expression turned icy.
“And what of it?”
“Excuse me?”
“If you’re truly proud to be a Seiren student, shouldn’t Star Magic take priority over Summoning?”
“T-that’s not…”
“If you value Summoning more than Star Magic, do you even belong in Seiren?”
Verus fell silent.
“And if you’re so confident in your Summoning—”
Ortren’s lips twisted upward as he pointed to a student.
“—then I’ll grant you the honor of dueling the first-year representative, Lea Tingel.”
Verus’s expression stiffened.
Lea Tingel—the direct heir of House Tingel, the prodigy who had spoken with the Fairy King yesterday. A top-tier talent in both magic and summoning.
Ortren sneered at Verus’s silence.
Then Anri spoke up.
“Professor Ortren. Does that mean we’re allowed to give it everything we have in the duel—not just Star Magic?”
Her eyes burned with defiance.
Ortren’s face darkened.
“How dare you question a teacher’s authority? Fine. I’ll allow it. But if you lose, you’ll be expelled for challenging me. Agreed?”
Anri flinched.
Lea looked shocked.
Anri’s shoulders trembled as she lowered her head.
“…I’m sorry. That was out of line.”
“Hmph. Before assigning opponents,” Ortren said with a smirk, “I’ll demonstrate what true Martial Magic looks like. You there, the white-haired boy.”
He pointed at Leo.
“Me?”
“Yes. You’ll represent the lower class for the demonstration. Step forward.” (T/N: YESSSSS. PERRRFECCCTTT. Lets bury this shithead supremacist to the ground.)
He strode to the center of the arena.
Leo followed slowly, smiling faintly.
“A duel using only Star Magic, correct?”
“Correct.”
“No other magic allowed?”
“Of course not.”
“Then you’ll regret that.”
—
‘To think I’ll get to witness Senior Plov’s Star Magic in person!’
Lea clasped her hands, eyes sparkling.
“Why’s Professor Ortren wasting his time on some lower-class reject? What a joke.”
An advanced-class student sneered.
Lea’s eyes flashed.
‘Did he just call him a reject?’
“Don’t call your classmates trash.”
Elric adjusted his glasses.
The sneering boy smirked.
“What, you feeling sympathy because you’re from a no-name family too?”
Elric’s eyes turned cold.
“You think being vice representative means anything? Let’s see if you’re still second after the midterms—urk!”
Wham—!
The boy folded in half as Lea’s dropkick hit him square in the gut.
“Oh my, sorry,” Lea said sweetly. “I was trying to kill a bug.”
“Y-yeah… that can happen… urgh—!”
“You should probably head to the infirmary,” Laura sighed, sending the groaning boy away.
With Lea smiling innocently, most of the advanced-class students actually believed her excuse.
“Could there really be bugs in a practice hall?”
“Maybe,” someone murmured.
Meanwhile, in the center of the field—
Snap—!
Ortren flicked his fingers.
Fwoosh—!
Dozens—no, hundreds—of Ortrens appeared around him.
Star Magic: Mirage.
One of the most basic Star Magic spells, said to have been used by the Founder of the Nebula himself.
Gasps filled the training ground.
“As expected of the professor. Even basic magic is on another level.”
“A hundred mirages…”
‘Leo Plov. You’ve been a thorn in Seiren’s side since last year.’
Ortren glared at him.
He already knew who Leo was.
Though this session was officially about showing the lower class their inferiority, his real goal was to humiliate Leo in front of everyone.
‘You act like you’ve mastered Star Magic just because you know a bit of it? I’ll show you reality.’
Leo stared blankly at the hostility directed his way and muttered,
“Crude.”
Only Ortren heard it.
‘Did that brat just—?!’
Grinding his teeth, Ortren met Leo’s eyes—and froze.
‘He… he found the real me?!’
His face twisted in shock.
Leo raised his hand.
Vrrrmm—!
A magic circle flared beneath him.
There wasn’t a single person in the world who could defeat Leo in a duel using only Star Magic—
‘Except for one.’
Smiling faintly at the thought of an old friend, Leo activated his spell.
Though his current power was nothing compared to his days as a Great Hero, that truth remained unchanged.
Within seconds, he’d analyzed Ortren’s entire spell structure.
‘A fake can never surpass the original.’
Fwoosh—!
Ortren’s magic dissolved instantly.
His eyes went wide in disbelief.
“What did you do?!”
“If you perfectly understand a spell’s structure, it’s easy to undo.”
“There’s no way anyone can analyze another person’s magic that fast—!”
“It’s possible. That’s why yours broke so easily.” (T/N: askdjsalkdjas lasldkjasd lkasdj afhrie kjas dkajshd as. YESSS!)
Leo approached him calmly.
Vrrrmm—!
In an instant, Leo’s body multiplied—one hundredfold.
The exact same Mirage spell.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
“How’s my Star Magic, Professor?”
Ortren’s eyes trembled at the sight of the flawless, intricately woven spell formation.
“With those great skills of yours,” Leo said softly, “care to give me a professional evaluation?”
(T/N: SATISFACTION ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL! Sorry guys! I’ve been commenting a lot haha!)