Chapter 35
After class, Leo headed to the Hero Tower at the center of the academy where the student council was located.
Arriving in front of the Hero Tower, Leo looked up at the towering building.
“It’s ridiculously tall,” Leo remarked in awe.
“You’re a first-year, right?”
“What brings you here?”
“Oh my, how cute.”
Passing upperclassmen noticed Leo and muttered in surprise.
The Hero Tower was a place upperclassmen frequented.
First-years had a natural instinctive fear of upperclassmen who had been through much more.
So underclassmen usually avoided areas where upperclassmen gathered.
“Oh? Leo?”
Someone called his name, and Leo turned.
It was Torua Yan, a fifth-year from the magic department.
“What brings you here?”
“I have business with the student council president.”
“Rhys?”
Torua tilted her head, then nodded.
“Want to follow me?”
Torua led Leo into the Hero Tower.
“So, Leo. When are you going to drop your other majors?”
“I have no intention of dropping any of them.”
“Leo, I told you before, your time is limited. I know you’re outstanding in all your majors, but I think you’re best suited for magic.”
Torua grumbled, but didn’t push further.
She had already been warned by the professors before.
Leo looked around the inside of the Hero Tower in awe.
At the entrance, there were portraits of countless heroes.
All of them were graduates of Lumene.
The facilities were also far superior to the first-year buildings.
It wasn’t that the first-year buildings lacked anything, but the Hero Tower was overwhelming.
He and Torua rode a levitation-magic elevator and quickly arrived on the upper floors.
They reached the floor used by the student council.
“Hello, vice president. Who’s the first-year?”
“This is Leo.”
“Leo? The famous first-year representative?”
A third-year student council officer’s eyes sparkled.
“Yeah. He’s here to see the president.”
“Interested in student council already as a first-year? That’s admirable.”
He smiled and left with some paperwork.
Overall, the student council was very busy.
“Come to think of it, your first-year midterm assignment was to develop original magic, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have any ideas?”
“A spell system based on non-attributed Mana.”
“Non-attributed Mana? That’s a new concept. Care to explain?”
“Mages usually have a main element.”
“Yeah, that’s why there are elemental oppositions. Even if you can use all elements, you can’t use opposing ones at the same time.”
“Right. I want to use non-attributed Mana to freely control all elements and increase versatility.”
“That’s an interesting idea. But it’s unrealistic.”
Torua gave a slight laugh.
“There’s a reason nobody tries it.”
“I know.”
Leo nodded with a smile.
“But if I’m going to do it, I want it to be special.”
Torua crossed her arms and smiled faintly.
This underclassman clearly wasn’t just talented in spell formulas.
‘For a mage, new challenges are always important. It’s really a waste.’
To think such a mage-like junior was an All-Class.
‘Kids with talent should have their path set from the start. I’ll have to discuss it seriously with Professor Len.’
Determined to steer him toward the magic department, Torua stopped in front of the student council president’s office.
Knock, knock—
“Come in.”
Clack—
“Hello, Rhys. Leo wanted to see you, so I brought him.”
“Leo?”
Rhys Zerdinger, who was sitting at his desk with a quill, stood up with a welcoming expression.
“Yes, Leo. What brings you here?”
“Student council president.”
“You can just call me brother when it’s just us.”
Rhys smiled gently, and Leo nodded.
“Then, Rhys, I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“I want to enter the Forbidden Archives.”
“I don’t know why you want to go in, but students can’t enter the Forbidden Archives without permission.”
Torua reached for some snacks on the side of the office.
“Not even the student council president can go in?”
“Unfortunately, it’s beyond even my authority.”
Rhys rested his chin on his clasped hands and smiled.
“Of course, it’s not impossible for a student to get in.”
“How?”
“You clear a [Hero Dungeon].”
“A [Hero Dungeon]?”
“Yes. When a page is recovered from a [Hero Dungeon], it’s customary for the conqueror to personally return it to the [Hero Record].”
“Of course, even then, you can’t just read whatever you want in the Forbidden Archives. So give up.”
Torua grumbled.
In short, first-years would never have a reason to go in, and even if they did, getting the information they wanted would be nearly impossible.
‘So I just have to sneak in.’
If you’re told not to do something, you want to do it even more. That’s just human nature.
Leo came to that conclusion, but neither Rhys nor Torua, who looked at Leo meaningfully, realized it.
“How’s your exam preparation? Aren’t you nervous for your first test?”
“I’m managing.”
Rhys asked, and Leo answered calmly.
“Is that enough? You know at Lumene, the class representative can change every exam, right?”
“Yes.”
“There are a lot of students aiming for your spot.”
Torua munched on a cookie as she spoke.
It wasn’t well known yet, but being Lumene’s class representative came with many perks.
The class rep wasn’t just the best among the best at Lumene, but also the academy’s public face for various events and received substantial benefits.
Above all, the class representative was the one most likely to become the next student council president.
“You know, your class is highly anticipated even by Lumene’s higher-ups. Do you think you can keep the rep spot against such fierce competition?”
“I’m not particularly interested in the rep spot. But—”
Leo grinned.
“I have no intention of giving up the top spot.”
“Such confidence. I’ll be looking forward to it,” Rhys Zerdinger replied with a satisfied smile.
—
The first academic exams after enrollment were enough to make the students nervous.
But at the same time, every first-year was looking forward to this exam.
Sitting in the stands of the first-year classroom training field, Chelsea Lewellin swung her legs and spoke.
“Just like Professor Harrid said, everyone’s changed so much in just a few months.”
She spun her staff in the air and murmured softly.
Runes infused with Mana spread through the air, and a spell formula completed in an instant.
Tide Markoa watched and clicked his tongue.
“Fast as always.”
“Quick casting is my specialty. Though I have gotten much faster.”
Just as predicted by Professor Harrid, the first-years’ skills had shot up in no time.
Even Chelsea Lewellin, who received outstanding education as a member of a Heroic House from childhood, had grown noticeably.
Now, freshmen felt a strange mix of confidence and excitement at where they stood.
“Still, I’m worried about Leo.”
When Chelsea Lewellin glanced at the field and spoke, Tide Markoa sighed.
“Yeah, a lot of people are after Leo.”
Since it was still early in the year, most major courses focused more on theory than practical lessons.
And the one who always shined most in class was Leo.
A top student recognized by every professor.
But there was still a point considered Leo’s weakness.
“Lumene exams place a lot of emphasis on practical skills. Will he be alright?”
Aura, Mana, Spirit Power.
Leo’s base energy was weak.
Especially since Leo was taking three major subjects at once.
Normally, students who focused on one field would have an even bigger advantage.
That’s why many students thought Leo was only strong in theory and weak in actual combat.
“Of course, the mid-tier students don’t stand a chance against him, but the top ranks might be tough.”
“This might be a good time for him to just focus on one major.”
As Tide Markoa muttered—
Professor Ain Elandieu spoke from the middle of the training field.
“We will now begin the first-year knight studies practical exam.”
His Aura-imbued voice echoed across the vast field.
Whistles and applause erupted everywhere.
There were still two weeks until exam season, but knight studies’ practical exam began today.
The first-year classroom training field was packed with students eager to watch, including not just first-years but upperclassmen as well.
“Is Carr really just here to make money?”
“Money follows crowds. That’s his motto.”
Chelsea Lewellin spoke in disbelief, and Tide Markoa chuckled.
Just as she said, Carr Thomas was out selling snacks.
“Professor Sedgen.”
Carr Thomas approached Sedgen, the Class 1 homeroom professor, floating a snack stand with levitation magic.
“What is it, Carr?”
Professor Sedgen looked at him, unimpressed.
As a rival to Professor Harrid Edmond, having his student approach wasn’t a pleasant experience.
“Would you like some popcorn and a drink?”
“Hmph, do you think I’d buy that? Sell it to your own homeroom and classmates.”
Sedgen’s cynical reply made Carr Thomas look downcast.
“I thought you were a professor with leadership who knew how to boost class morale. My mistake. Sorry for assuming.”
“Hmph. If you think I’d fall for such an obvious trick, you’re sorely mistaken, Carr.”
Just as Sedgen looked utterly unconvinced—
“Professor! Are you buying us popcorn?”
“Wow! That sounds great!”
The Class 1 students cheered from the stands.
Sedgen’s ears perked up.
“See? I told you the professor has leadership and knows how to boost morale!”
Class 1, under Sedgen’s lead, was out in full force to support their classmates.
As the cheers grew, Sedgen’s lips curled up.
“If the students want it, I have no choice. Hand it out.”
“Yes, sir!”
“With caramel topping.”
“Thank you!”
Carr finished the transaction with a friendly smile and handed out popcorn and drinks to the students of Class 1.
He even slipped some dried fish to those who cheered a bit louder.
“Alright, everyone! Shout it out elegantly! Go, Class 1!”
“Go, Class 1!”
Either way, the atmosphere grew lively as Class 1 cheered together.
Meanwhile, Carr Thomas glanced over at Chloe Mueller, sitting alone in a corner reading a black spellbook, and sighed.
“Chloe.”
“……”
“Hey, Chloe!”
“Yeah?”
Chloe Mueller finally looked up.
Seeing his exhausted friend, Carr Thomas sighed.
“Take a break. You’ll collapse if you keep this up. You need to know how to enjoy yourself too.”
“I don’t have time for that.”
Chloe Mueller frowned.
Carr Thomas scratched his head and handed her a fatigue recovery potion.
“I didn’t bring any money.”
“It’s fine. I’m just worried as a friend.”
“Here! Popcorn and drinks!”
“Yes! Yes! Coming! Take it easy, alright? Don’t overdo it!”
Carr waved, then ran off to deliver an order to an upperclassman.
Watching him go, Chloe Mueller smiled slightly and sipped the potion.
Just then—
“First duel. Class 1: Haul Neif. Class 5: Leo Plov. Step forward!”
‘Leo.’
Chloe Mueller clenched her fist as she looked at Leo.
‘I won’t lose.’
* * * * * *
(T/N: damn, just caught up with the batch of chapters from almost 2 weeks ago. now i’m only like a week behind lol. good news though, i should be back to our regular release rate (or even faster) by the end of this month. we’ve got everything arranged, so we’re all set.)
