Chapter 351
The Magic Conference.
A gathering where the greatest magicians in the world attended to discuss magic.
It was, quite literally, the conference that would shape the future of magic.
Various groups participated—from each region’s Magic Tower, to magic guilds from several nations, to Hero Academies.
Among those diverse factions, the ones with the strongest voice at the Magic Conference were the Magic Towers.
Hero Academies and royal guild-affiliated magicians were more publicly famous.
They had proven their strength on the front lines of battle and built their reputation there, so it was only natural.
But a powerful magician was not necessarily the greatest magician.
Those magicians were simply the best at using what already existed. The ones who created the new, who pursued change, who set trends—those were the researchers.
That was also the essence of magic.
And the ones who best understood and pursued that essence were the magicians of the Magic Towers.
This year’s Magic Conference was, unusually, being held in Seiren. Lumene, Azonia, Damienne—other Hero Academies, as institutions representing their respective races, often hosted the conference because of their strong interest in magic.
But the path of magic Seiren pursued was fundamentally different from the standard path.
Star Magic.
A magical system established by Luna, the Founder of the Nebula, whose magic defined the existence of magic itself and who was regarded as the greatest magician.
Seiren pursued this Star Magic.
It was magic unique to Elves.
Most newly announced magic theories or interpretations at conferences often could not be applied to Star Magic.
Adding Seiren’s inherent secrecy to the mix…
Despite being the Hero Academy that valued magic the most among the four, it was extremely rare for Seiren to host the Magic Conference.
Because of that, the magic world was paying close attention to this rare Seiren-hosted conference.
—
Two days after midterms.
Lunch time.
The lower-class students rushed out to eat.
They had achieved overwhelming grades on the test, but the results had not been officially released yet.
So the discrimination based on class rankings within the grades still continued.
But none of the lower-class students were intimidated by that superficial discrimination anymore.
Their skills had already been proven through the exam.
There were no middle-class or upper-class students left who dared to look down on them.
If anything, some upper-class students even avoided eye contact when the lower-class students walked by.
Even so, the lower-class students still did not eat in the cafeteria.
As always, they prepared lunch in their hangout spot—their lounge.
They were making sandwiches when Eclere arrived with a bright smile.
“Hey, everyone!”
Ever since becoming close with the lower-class students, Eclere kept spending time with them.
After the exam ended, Lea also joined them for lunch.
Of course, Lea’s objective was to see Leo.
“We brought a few others with us today. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
Anri grinned.
“You can come in!”
At Eclere’s gesture, well-known students walked in.
It was none other than Elric, the current 2nd place in the 1st year, and 4th place Yoinia.
The sudden appearance of such students made the lower-class students widen their eyes.
“They wanted to eat lunch with us.”
When Eclere smiled as she spoke, Yoinia replied in a blunt voice.
“I just came because I have something I want to ask.”
Yoinia approached Anri with a scoff, arms crossed.
“You’re Anri, right? The lower-class class representative.”
“Yeah.”
“I want to ask you something. How did you improve your skills that much?”
Anri scratched her cheek.
She couldn’t just say, “I read a forbidden book the school restricted us from.”
“It’s thanks to Professor Laura and Leo teaching us well.”
At that, Yoinia glanced toward Leo.
She then stepped forward and greeted him politely.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Leo Plov. I’m Yoinia of House Tela. I’ve heard much about the Lumene Student Council President’s reputation. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”
Like the daughter of a prestigious family, Yoinia greeted him with graceful poise before asking seriously.
“Let me be straightforward. How did the students here improve so quickly in such a short amount of time?”
“I only gave them an opportunity. The strength they gained is the result of their own effort.”
“Then please tell me about that opportunity.”
“I don’t really feel like telling you.”
Yoinia’s eyes twitched.
“Is it because I’m in the upper class?”
“It means you don’t really need it.”
Yoinia looked confused at that.
“If your class had just used teamwork properly back then, Berus’s team wouldn’t have taken such an overwhelming victory. If I had to point out one weak point… maybe that you focused too much on high-tier magic?”
“You sound like some of the 2nd-year seniors.”
Yoinia fell into thought.
Rather than denying reality after losing, she was trying to find a way to break through it.
Just then, Lea returned with a sandwich on a plate and handed it to Leo.
“After the exam ended, a lot of upper-class students started questioning the old teaching methods. Yoinia is one of them.”
Being overtaken overnight by the lower class—it was only natural.
As they enjoyed their meal, Eclere tilted her head.
“Something suddenly came to mind.”
“What?”
“How do Lumene’s 1st years compare to us?”
At that question, the 1st-year Seiren students froze.
Lumene and Seiren.
Rivals in the Lumeiren, and Lumene’s current 1st years would eventually compete with the Seiren students.
As everyone tensed at Eclere’s question, Leo spoke.
“What’s there to compare? You guys and our academy’s students are all just chicks who finished midterms.”
Elric adjusted his glasses.
“I am curious, though. I’ve heard Lumene uses a ‘mentor’ system, right? You also have a mentee?”
At that, Lea—who had been nibbling her sandwich—perked up her ears.
She turned her head sharply and glared at Leo.
“I do.”
“If you’re the mentor, then they must be famous, right? Aina Beidna of the Knights Department? Haviden Birsen? Or Sasha Sienne Lordren from the Summoning Department? Or perhaps Juen Torbina from the Magic Department?”
“Elric… you sure know Lumene’s 1st-year names well.”
Eclere said with a curious look, and Elric answered.
“They’re our future rivals. It’s only natural to keep track of strong opponents.”
Hearing that, Lea’s eyes blazed.
‘Who is it?! Who’s getting personal guidance from Senior Plov?! That lucky little—!’
Anri tore into her sandwich like she was tearing meat.
“It’s a student named Luke.”
“Luke? Elric, do you know anyone by that name?”
“…First I’ve heard of him.”
Elric scratched his head.
‘Luke! You’re my enemy starting today!’
Lea burned with inner resolve.
Luke had unknowingly made an enemy of the top-ranked Seiren 1st year.
“Anyway, the conference starts tomorrow. I wonder what new magic theories will be announced.”
“I’m personally curious about [Introduction to Star Magic]. I know Seiren calls it a profane magical text, but it supposedly reinterprets Star Magic so anyone can use it. Any magician would be curious.”
Hearing Yoinia’s words, the entire lower class froze internally.
[Introduction to Star Magic].
It was the very source of their dramatic improvement.
‘The conference, huh. I guess I should go meet Assistant Professor Anna tonight.’
—
That evening.
Seiren was busy preparing to welcome outside guests.
It was very rare for so many outsiders to visit Seiren outside the Lumeiren.
Even with the Pureblood Society’s heavy influence over Seiren, these were among the most prominent magicians in the world.
Some were magicians whose names were recorded in the Hero Record, having reached the status of Heroes. Seiren could not possibly treat them poorly.
The entire student body gathered at the front courtyard to welcome the magicians attending the conference.
“Brr! It’s cold! So cold!”
Early evening.
Lunia trembled as the cold wind hit her and narrowed her eyes toward the side.
“You know you’re really standing out like that, right?”
Lunia clicked her tongue.
Leo smirked.
“It’s the outfit I always wear.”
Leo was wearing Lumene’s uniform.
He was attending the Magic Conference to assist Assistant Professor Anna.
Naturally, that meant he was representing Lumene, so he wore Lumene’s uniform.
But right now, with no one having arrived yet…
Standing confidently in Lumene’s uniform among the entire assembled student body made him stand out far too much.
Even with all of Seiren’s students staring at him, Leo didn’t flinch an inch. Lunia shook her head.
‘Sometimes I swear he has steel plating on his face.’
“The Seiren uniform suits you too, though.”
She grumbled lightly.
Just then—
Magicians began arriving in the courtyard.
“Welcome to Seiren.”
Each time magicians appeared, the students greeted them in unison.
Among them, Leo spotted Assistant Professor Anna and walked over.
“Assistant Professor Anna.”
“Oh! Leo!”
She brightened instantly.
“How’s life in Seiren treating you?”
“It’s been fun.”
“…I can clearly see you’ve suffered.”
She sighed at her student.
“Anyway, leave this conference to me.”
Her expression grew firm.
“I can’t have you stressing over this too.”
“Oh, about that…”
Leo smiled.
“I may have caused a bit of trouble here in Seiren.”
“……”
Her smile froze.
“What… exactly do you mean by that?”
“I’ll explain everything once we get to the lodging.”
—
“It’s been a while, Herdeum.”
“It has.”
Herdeum exchanged friendly greetings with an elf magician.
It was none other than the Northern Tower Master.
Algren Vegs.
An elf, yet a magician capable of claiming the title of Northern Tower Master—an extraordinary achievement.
Despite that ability, he was not a graduate of Seiren.
The reason was simple.
He could not learn Star Magic.
A few Seiren teachers narrowed their eyes at him.
They were members of the Pureblood Society.
But even they couldn’t treat a Northern Tower Master carelessly.
“I look forward to your presentation at this conference.”
“Of course. But this year…”
Algren grinned and pulled a young woman at his side closer by the shoulder.
“I hope you’ll look forward to my daughter’s performance even more.”
A beautiful woman in her early twenties bowed to Herdeum.
A half-elf.
Some Pureblood teachers frowned visibly, but Herdeum didn’t care.
“A shame, truly. If Anias had enrolled in Seiren, she would’ve achieved remarkable things here.”
When Herdeum spoke regretfully, Algren smiled.
“My daughter doesn’t have much interest in becoming a Hero.”
“What? She clearly has the talent.”
“No, I won’t become a Hero.”
Anias shook her head.
Herdeum looked puzzled.
Just then, as the two began walking away—
“Father. Look over there.”
Algren looked where she pointed.
“Oh?”
He spotted Leo instantly—easily noticeable in Lumene’s uniform among Seiren’s students.
“So that’s Leo Plov.”
Algren’s eyes gleamed.
‘The All-Class genius said to rival the Great Hero of Shadows.’