Chapter 53

The spotlight poured down on Leo Plov.

“Congratulations!”

But the mood was odd.

Class 5 was filled with celebration, but students from other classes looked unconvinced.

Emio Luchan of Class 2, who had placed third in the Magic Department, raised his hand.

“Wait! I object! How can Leo Plov, who didn’t even place in the top three in any department, become the year representative?”

“Yeah! This is weird!”

“Please explain!”

“We can’t accept this!”

Complaints erupted from all around.

Just as Artianne became flustered by the reaction—

“I’ll explain how the scores were determined.”

Professor Harrid spoke up.

“First. Dual-class students are not ranked by department scores. Because of the nature of dual-class students, it’s not a fair competition.”

For example, in the case of a magic swordsman, their pure Aura ability is weaker than a pure knight, and their magic ability is weaker than a pure mage.

But when both abilities are combined, they create an extraordinary synergistic effect.

“Second. Leo’s score in the combined Heroics & Combat Studies practical was the highest among first-years.”

“What? Didn’t other students also get the highest score in the Heroics & Combat Studies practical?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Leo Plov exceeded expectations in the Hero World.”

Students who hadn’t known that fact stared wide-eyed at Leo.

“He also defeated Chubarn during that process. Is that enough explain Leo Plov’s score?”

No one could argue.

It would be strange to complain about awarding first place to the student who accomplished the impossible.

“He defeated Chubarn? And did it with just the two of them? Are you insane?”

“Professor Harrid said anyone who fought Chubarn would be expelled, no matter what! What’s that then?”

Tide and Eliana asked in a rush, and Leo sipped his drink.

“There was no way to escape the Hero Dungeon except for that.”

“Wow! Crazy. You’re seriously crazy! I sometimes think you’re not sane either.”

Eliana clicked her tongue in disbelief as Leo grinned.

Meanwhile, assistants revealed the ranking boards.

Students swarmed toward them.

“Ah…! I’m higher than I thought!”

“N-no way! My grades are that low?”

All around, there was a mix of joy and despair.

Watching this, Chelsea said,

“Professor Harrid was right. So many students who were near the bottom have shot up. And a lot of the top students fell.”

It was just as Harrid had warned at the start of the semester.

Of course, among the very top, the only major shift was Chloe Mueller, who ran into trouble during the midterms.

Still, with her actual skill, no one underestimated Chloe Mueller as one of the best first-years.

“Kids grow fast. If you let your guard down, you never know when someone below will catch up.”

“Hmph. That won’t happen. But Leo, you sound like such an old man. You’re the same age as us.”

As Chelsea pointed this out, Leo smiled, and Carr approached.

“I went to check the other classes’ reactions, and they’re all going crazy over Leo.”

“No wonder.”

Mmm! Chelsea nodded.

The party began in earnest after that.

Leo enjoyed the party while selecting food from the buffet.

With students from so many regions, there was a wide variety of dishes.

“Eastern food is so good!”

Carr happily filled his plate with fried pork.

“It really is.”

Watching the two of them enjoy the party, Professor Len Hors idly swirled his wine at the faculty table.

“Professor Len, you don’t seem happy.”

Assistant Professor Anna asked with a puzzled look, and Len clicked his tongue.

“Assistant Professor Anna, how could I possibly enjoy this party?”

“Your favorite, Leo Plov, became year representative. Didn’t you always want him to become the representative?”

“Of course, I’m happy. But to truly enjoy it, Leo Plov would need to be a magic department student.”

“It is a shame, isn’t it?”

Anna also licked her lips as she looked over at Leo Plov.

Half a semester had already passed since the first years enrolled.

There were many magic students, but if you had to pick three who stood out, it was clearly Abad Lewellin, Chloe Mueller, and Leo Plov.

‘Abad Lewellin and Chloe Mueller both have limitless potential.’

In a lifetime as a mage, Len Hors had never seen such talent.

Honestly, as an instructor, it was thrilling.

They absorbed every lesson immediately.

‘It’s like refining a raw gem.’

There was nothing more rewarding for an educator.

‘On the other hand, Leo Plov…’

Anna shivered slightly.

‘If Abad Lewellin and Chloe Mueller are raw gems with limitless potential… Leo Plov has no end in sight. He’s too deep.’

If Leo Plov learned something in class, he didn’t just master it—he absorbed it and made it his own.

The magic professors called it talent.

But Anna didn’t feel like she was refining a raw gem with Leo Plov.

‘It’s like polishing an already perfect jewel, making it shine even brighter.’

Sometimes, that unfathomable depth gave her chills.

That didn’t mean she didn’t want him in the magic department.

If anything, she wished he would choose magic as his specialty as soon as possible.

Just seeing it now, it was terrifying how much potential Leo Plov could achieve if he focused only on magic.

“Waaah! Why did the heavens give Leo Plov useless side talents like swordsmanship and summoning! What should we do, Professor Anna?”

‘He’s drunk again.’

Anna screamed internally.

Len Hors couldn’t handle his alcohol, and when drunk, his emotions swung wildly.

The problem was, he’d say things that would be a disaster if the other professors heard.

‘That’s why geniuses don’t care what others think.’

Watching Len cry into a wine bottle, Anna quickly resolved to stop him.

“They’ll probably choose the Magic Department soon.”

“And why is that?”

“Think about Leo’s closest classmates. Chelsea and Carr, right?”

“……!”

Len Hors jerked his head up.

“Anna! You’re a genius! Yes! That’s the way! If I get those two to persuade Leo, he’ll pick the Magic Department.”

“Pe-persuade him? Professor Len! Wait a minute!”

“Hahaha! Why didn’t I think of such an easy method before!”

“Forcing a department is against school rules! If a professor instigates that, it’s not just a simple disciplinary issue!”

“I’ll call them right away—”

“Hey! You idiot! Listen to me!”

Anna rushed over and tried to cover Len’s mouth.

“Why are you stopping me? This is a perfect chance to keep Leo from wasting his time!”

“What’s a waste of time?”

Anna’s face turned pale.

The one person they absolutely didn’t want to meet had shown up.

“Ah, Professor Ain Elandieu, you’re here.”

“Good to see you, Senior Ain.”

“I heard something interesting just now.”

Ain gave a sly smile.

“Leo gets along very well with the Magic Department students. Isn’t that proof enough that he’ll pick the Magic Department?”

“You’re going to judge departments by friendships? That’s naïve. The right thing for an educator is to make sure the student goes where their talent is best used. Leo Plov is more suited to the Knight Department than anyone.”

“I understand why you want Leo. But be objective. The ability to see things clearly is what makes a good mage… Oh, my mistake. Senior Ain, since your head’s filled with muscle as a knight, you can’t see clearly. No helping it. As someone with magical insight, I’ll calmly explain why Leo should join the Magic Department.”

“You really think you can get away with talking politely like that to me, mister magical insight?”

Anna looked up at the ceiling and groaned.

‘It’s over.’

Ain, smiling coldly, grabbed Len’s collar.

Len kept arguing his logic, regardless.

“What are you two doing? Aren’t you embarrassed in front of the students?”

Professor Yura Marnin, watching with disbelief, spoke.

“We were talking about which department Leo Plov should join.”

“Leo?”

‘Looks like these people are dreaming again. Leo’s a Summoning Department student.’

Yura looked at the senior and junior professors with deep pity.

‘Anyone who summoned a Phoenix obviously belongs in the Summoning Department.’

With a click of her tongue and a lukewarm expression, Yura looked at them as Ain and Len frowned.

Of the three, Yura is the most unhinged and the most ambitious about departments.

‘Why’s she looking at me with those creepy eyes?’

‘Senior Yura is plotting something strange again.’

Ain and Len muttered to themselves.

Meanwhile, the other professors, watching the standoff, shook their heads as if to say, “Here they go again.”

At that moment, Professor Sedgen elegantly tapped a wine glass with his spoon, gathering the students’ attention.

“Attention, everyone. Are you enjoying the party?”

“Yes.”

“Good! As promised, I’ll announce the details for the school trip.”

The students’ eyes sparkled.

“Of course, the school trip isn’t just for fun. It’s about broadening your horizons in places you wouldn’t normally get to visit.”

With a grand gesture, Sedgen pointed to the side.

An assistant brought over a board covered with cloth.

Sedgen snapped his fingers.

Snap—! Flutter—!

With that sound, the assistant pulled off the cloth.

A map of the continent was revealed.

“Does he have to make such a show of it?”

“Professor Sedgen likes things like that.”

Carr muttered, and Leo Plov smiled and agreed.

“Each class can choose the region they want to visit.”

At those words, each class became noisy.

“East! Let’s go east!”

“What? No way. Did you forget I’m from the east?”

“How about the south? I want to see what the desert’s like.”

“Ew! It’s just hot! Let’s go somewhere cool like the north!”

As the students grew noisy and began to bicker, Duran Moira raised his hand.

“Oh! Duran, do you have a question?”

“You say it’s about broadening our horizons, but professor, some first-years have already been to many regions, depending on their circumstances. Is this trip just to accommodate students who haven’t had those experiences?”

Duran was right.

Some students, like Leo Plov, had never left their homeland, while others had visited multiple countries and cultures. There were quite a few students who had been all over.

Many nodded at Duran’s question, and Sedgen smiled.

“Good question, Duran.”

Sedgen spread his arms wide.

“Certainly, there are students here who have visited every region since they were young! For them, a school trip isn’t about broadening horizons! Lumene would never offer you such a trivial experience!”

The students murmured.

If it wasn’t just about going to another region, what could it be?

Sedgen approached the map and struck the northern region.

“You’ll be visiting a place that’s not part of the human realm!”

The students were startled.

“Th-then! Don’t tell me—!”

“Yes! Another race! The elves’ realm!”

With that, cheers erupted among the students.

“Oooooh!”

“Amazing!”

“Lumene’s the best! We get to go to the elves’ territory!”

Even Duran looked a little taken aback but couldn’t help grinning.

Leo blinked as he watched.

‘Times really have changed.’

There used to be no walls between races, but this era was different.

Races generally interact, but moving freely between territories isn’t easy.

‘Weren’t there even wars between races in the past?’

Humans and elves actually have a bad relationship.

It was unthinkable in the era when Kyle lived.

‘Well, in this era, the past is probably just as unimaginable.’

“Hey, Chelsea! Have you ever been to the elves’ territory?”

“Of course not!”

“I can’t wait! Which country should we go to?”

“Leo, which country do you want to visit?”

At Carr’s question, Leo pointed at the map.

“There.”

“Huh?”

“I want to go to Elsalbekia.”

Elsalbekia.

It’s one of the smaller elven countries.

And there’s something special about it.

[Fairy Forest]

Now, it’s just an old name.

Despite the name, there are no fairies living there now.

It’s said that after the Age of Calamity ended, the fairies left.

But before that, it was the sanctuary of the fairies.

‘Looks like I’ll get a chance to visit sooner than I thought.’

Leo clenched his fist.

As a summoner, Leo Plov has a pact.

The Fairy King’s Pact.

‘I don’t think the fairies would have abandoned their sanctuary so easily. Even if they really did…’

Leo’s eyes gleamed.

‘There’s a good chance something connected to the Fairy King was left behind.’