Chapter 80
The day after the excitement and fatigue of the school trip had barely faded.
Lumene’s academic schedule resumed as usual.
Most of the first-years, still not back to their routines, drifted through class in a daze.
Near the end of the last class before lunch—
“Everyone, attention. I have an announcement.”
History Professor Dreigon gathered the students’ attention.
Once everyone was focused, Dreigon began.
“This afternoon’s class schedule has changed. There will be a combined major class, so after lunch, gather in the Hero’s Tower auditorium. No exceptions.”
When Professor Dreigon left, the students began to murmur.
“A combined major class? We’ve never had a joint major class before.”
Carr stroked his chin.
“Doesn’t this feel like a new school event coming?”
Leo answered, watching Carr grin slyly.
“Probably. Our school never lets the students rest.”
“Leo! Let’s eat lunch at a café near the Hero’s Tower today!”
“Sure.”
“Chelsea! Abad is looking for you.”
“Huh?”
At the sound of someone calling from the back of the classroom, Chelsea walked over to Abad.
A few moments later, Chelsea returned, looking apologetic.
“Sorry, looks like I’ll have to eat with my brother today.”
“Alright. Have a good time together.”
“Enjoy your lunch.”
As Chelsea went off to eat with Abad, Carr spoke up.
“Shall we head toward the Hero’s Tower too? There are a lot of upperclassmen there, so it’s a little intimidating.”
The two of them left the classroom building for the Hero’s Tower.
Lumene’s campus had all kinds of cafés, snack shops, and restaurants, not just the cafeteria.
Of course, unlike the cafeteria, you had to pay, but every place was good, and students loved the variety.
“I heard competition to open up shop here is fierce.”
Carr said, glancing at the eateries near the Hero’s Tower.
“Leo, how about southern cuisine today?”
“Sounds good.”
“Great! I actually wanted to try this famous southern restaurant near the Hero’s Tower!”
Leo followed Carr to the popular spot.
As expected, it was packed.
Luckily, there was an open seat, so Leo and Carr went to claim it.
“Excuse me.”
“Huh?”
A group of students suddenly cut in and took the seats.
“Excuse me. We were about to sit there.”
“Huh?”
At Leo’s words, the students looked up in surprise, then burst out laughing.
“Is this first-year talking back to us?”
“Are you trying to pick a fight? Cute.”
“Wait a second, white hair and red eyes… isn’t this Leo Plov?”
It was none other than second-year students from the Summoning Department.
The Summoning Department had a strict hierarchy between years, and second-years disliked how Leo never even showed his face in summoning classes with his upperclassmen.
Of course, Leo was not the type to care what his seniors thought.
“Arrogant, just like the rumors.”
“What, you think being class rep means you’re someone special?”
The second-years radiated a threatening aura. Carr forced an awkward laugh.
“Ha ha. It’s fine. We’ll just eat somewhere else. Come on, Leo.”
“This is why country bumpkins and commoners won’t do. No manners.”
“Ha ha.”
Carr smiled breezily.
“Let’s just go, Leo. There’s nothing good in causing trouble with upperclassmen—”
Thud-!
“Huh?”
Crash!
One of the second-years deliberately tripped Carr, then poured a water jug over his head.
“Mind your manners. Otherwise, you could end up like your friend.”
“Hey, that’s going too far. He’s from another department.”
“You think the Magic Department cares about no-name commoners? He’ll be lucky to last one semester.”
They all laughed.
“Excuse me.”
Leo gave a small, apologetic smile to a server who hesitated with her tray, then took a bowl of soup from it.
Splat—!
“Gah?”
Without hesitation, he slammed the hot soup bowl into the face of the second-year who had tripped Carr.
“Oh, sorry. My hand slipped.”
With a face that showed not the slightest hint of regret, Leo rubbed the soup bowl all over the second-year’s face.
“Aaaargh!”
The second-year screamed, clutching his face from the hot soup.
“Are you crazy?!”
“A first-year dares to attack a senior?!”
The rest of the second-years glared, sparks flying.
“I don’t think the school rules say anything about respecting upperclassmen.”
Leo smiled coldly.
For a moment, the second-years faltered under his presence.
But their pride was stung, and their faces flushed red.
“Follow me. You’re going to pay for picking a fight with a second-year!”
Just as things were getting tense—
“That’s enough.”
Everyone turned toward the corner of the restaurant.
The second-years who’d confronted Leo snapped to attention.
“U-Ulta, sir!”
He was a fifth-year male student, with pale skin and light blond hair.
Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he looked at the second-years and spoke.
“You guys started it, didn’t you? If you make any more trouble, I won’t stand by as your upperclassman. So why don’t you call it quits?”
“Uh, yes, sir! Of course!”
“We understand!”
“Sorry about that. Let’s end it here.”
The second-years quickly apologized and hurried out of the restaurant.
Ulta got up and helped Carr to his feet.
“On behalf of the Summoning Department, I apologize.”
“It’s alright.”
Carr replied sheepishly.
Ulta gave Leo a last look.
“Sorry for stepping in. Even if my juniors are hopeless, I can’t stand to see them get crushed by a first-year.”
Ulta gave a meaningful smile and left the restaurant.
“Who was that?”
“You don’t know Ulta Regdition? He’s the vice top of the fifth-years! He’s been Rhys Zerdinger’s rival for five years! I heard he was away on assignment—when did he get back?”
Carr sounded excited.
Leo smiled faintly at his words.
‘No wonder. If he’s the fifth-year vice top, it makes sense he’s the Pegasus contractor.’
Ulta was the contractor of Pegasus, known as one of the three great spirit beasts along with Phoenix and Fairy.
—
After lunch, as Leo headed toward the Hero’s Tower auditorium, Celia approached.
“Leo.”
“Hi, Celia. Did you have a good trip?”
“Of course.”
Celia brushed back her hair and let out a little laugh.
“I wiped out some bandits who were causing trouble in the elf territory.”
Celia puffed out her chest with pride, then half-lidded her eyes.
“Well, it’s not much compared to what your class did.”
News that Class 5 had done joint classes with Seiren spread, and they became the envy of the whole first year.
“I heard you even met the Seiren first-year rep. What was she like?”
Celia, knowing Lunia was from the Lunda family and could wield Phoenix’s power, was very curious.
“Rough.”
Carr answered with a chuckle.
“An elf, rough? That’s hard to imagine.”
Celia looked intrigued.
They were chatting about the school trip when TAs entered the auditorium.
“Everyone, gather by your department!”
The TAs’ call made the students look confused.
“Aren’t we supposed to gather by class?”
“No. Starting today, we’re preparing for the Departmental Competition.”
“……!”
“……!”
The first-years’ faces changed.
Departmental Competition!
Each year, Lumene held a competition to determine the best department.
With departmental pride on the line, the contest was fierce, regardless of grade.
“Leo! Over here!”
Celia grabbed Leo’s hand.
“Wait a minute! Why are you taking Leo?”
Carr hurried to hold Leo back.
“Why? He’s a Knight Department student, isn’t he?”
“How’s Leo a Knight Department student? If anything, he’s closer to the Magic Department! You heard he decoded the Founder of the Nebula’s magic during the trip, right?”
“How should I know?”
Just then, Chelsea ran over.
“Why are you taking Leo without asking!”
“You know his mother’s side, right?”
“That doesn’t make him a Zerdinger!”
A familiar argument flared up between Celia and Chelsea.
All eyes turned to Leo.
‘Leo Plov…’
‘A top performer in Knight, Magic, and Summoning—an asset for any department…’
‘We have to get him on our side, no matter what!’
The different departments vied for Leo.
“Obviously, Leo should be in the Knight Department, right?”
“That’s just what the Knight Department wants.”
Chen Xia smiled, but Chloe shook her head.
“Leo Plov. If you’re my rival, then act like one and join the Knight Department.”
“Since when was Leo your rival?”
Duran spoke with authority, but Chelsea snorted.
“It doesn’t matter. Leo’s in the same department as me!”
“There are already three Knight Department valedictorians including you, Chen Xia, and Duran. Isn’t it unfair to add the class rep too?”
“I don’t think the Magic Department, with two valedictorians, has any right to complain. Walden! Say something!”
Celia and Abad, along with Eliza, seemed uninterested, but Walden was visibly annoyed.
“Leo! Decide! Which department are you joining?”
Finally, Celia handed Leo the choice.
Leo answered dryly.
“That’s simple to solve.”
—
The first-years finished gathering by department.
Amid the commotion in the auditorium, three people stepped up onto the stage.
“Wait, isn’t that Torua?”
“And Jamua?”
“Oh! That’s Ulta!”
The top fifth-years from each department.
They were true candidates for hero status.
The appearance of these usually-absent big names thrilled the whole first year.
At that moment, Torua noticed something.
The first-years were divided into four large groups.
Knight, Magic, Summoning, and—
One empty area, where a single person stood alone.
“Hey, Leo. Why are you sitting all by yourself?”
“Please correct that, Senior Torua.”
Leo smiled faintly.
“I’m not being excluded by everyone. I’m excluding the whole grade myself.”