Chapter 84
“Is that even possible?”
“Aura amplification or whatever… That’s way beyond that, isn’t it?”
All the students stared at Leo in shock.
‘Leo Plov…!’
Duran ground his teeth, and Celia felt chills run over her body.
‘That’s supposed to be Leo’s flames?’
Everyone was surprised, but the most surprised of all was Leo himself.
‘This is way too effective!’
Leo had always used Arron’s breathing technique freely, but since it was originally a beastman’s technique, there were parts that didn’t suit him.
Because of that, the actual aura amplification was lacking compared to Arron.
But after using the breathing technique Ain taught as a base and modifying it to suit himself, this was the result.
Ssssh—!
Smoke rose from his hand as if it was being cooled down.
He’d gotten burns before when drawing out power beyond his limits.
‘This time my arm’s completely burned.’
Leo gritted his teeth through the pain and sheathed his sword.
“Amazing!”
“Hey, Leo, how did you do that? Is there some trick?”
“Teach me too!”
The Knight Department students crowded around, excited, bombarding him with questions.
Step, step—
Ain hurried over and checked Leo’s arm, frowning.
“Nella. Come and heal Leo’s hand.”
“Huh? Oh! Yes!”
Nella, who possessed healing aura, rushed over.
“I’ll take him to the infirmary, so you all keep practicing.”
* * *
“It worked even better than I expected.”
“You’re smiling when your arm’s like that?”
As Leo let out a wry laugh in the infirmary, Nella shot him a look.
Nella used her healing aura to treat the burns on Leo’s arm.
“Thanks, Nella. You’ve gotten better.”
“It’s not fully healed. I just did first aid, so get it treated properly at the infirmary.”
“Good job, Nella.”
“It’s nothing. It’s just my job.”
Nella shook her head with her usual lazy smile.
“Leo.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Did you already know about [The Hero’s Breath]?”
At the sharp question, Nella was startled, and Leo smiled to himself.
‘He figured it out just by seeing it once?’
“Yes.”
“Where did you learn it?”
“I saw it in a book when I was little.”
“You learned it on your own?”
“Yes.”
“And you modified the technique today based on what I taught you?”
“That’s right.”
Seeing Leo answer so calmly, Ain felt cold sweat on his back.
‘He’s truly bottomless. It’s amazing enough that he learned The Hero’s Breath, which humans aren’t supposed to be able to use, by himself, but to modify it for himself, too.’
“Did you always have that backlash from aura amplification?”
“Yes. It was never this bad, though.”
The new breathing method worked so well that the backlash was much worse.
“With the method I taught, you couldn’t manifest aura at all?”
“That’s correct.”
“Looks like your aura control is similar to a beastman’s. That’s why the method for humans didn’t work for you.”
Just as Ain said, the first person to teach Kyle aura had been a beastman mercenary.
Normally, he never would have been able to learn it properly, but thanks to Kyle’s talent and intuition, he picked it up with ease.
‘As expected of a Lumene professor. He spotted the problem right away.’
“Leo.”
“Yes.”
“It’s best if you stop using [The Hero’s Breath] from now on.”
“Because of the side effects?”
“Yes. It’s not good for you to use a technique that injures you.”
Ain let out a deep sigh.
“There’s someone I know who lost their power from overdoing it.”
As Ain muttered bitterly, Leo spoke up.
“I’ll hold back, but I can’t make any promises.”
Leo smiled.
“Push past your limits. Isn’t that our school’s motto?”
Ain looked into Leo’s eyes.
‘That’s not just reckless bravado.’
Leo’s eyes were the eyes of someone who had endured all sorts of hardships.
Ain let out a laugh, as if there was no helping him.
“If you’re that confident, then prove it with your results.”
* * *
After the Knight Department class ended,
Leo immediately headed for Magic Department class.
Today was a practical class, so instead of the classroom, he headed for the magic practice area.
As he left the training grounds, Leo ran into a female student.
“Chloe? What are you doing at the classroom building at this hour?”
“I just stopped by to pick up something I left in class.”
As always, Chloe approached, hugging two thick magic books to her chest.
“Did your Knight Department class just finish?”
“Yeah. Perfect timing. Let’s go together.”
“S-sure.”
‘Wow! I’m walking alone with Leo for the first time in ages!’
Chloe felt herself getting a little nervous for some reason and took a deep breath.
‘Chloe! Don’t get nervous! What’s the big deal about walking with Leo?’
As Chloe tried to calm herself, Leo spoke.
“Isn’t it heavy carrying two books? Here, let me hold one.”
“They’re heavy, are you sure?”
“It’s fine.”
“Then I won’t say no.”
As she smiled and handed him a book, their hands touched.
‘Ah! Our hands touched!’
Chloe’s face turned red, and she quickly turned her head.
‘Agh! Seriously! Why am I acting so stupid! The more I think about it, the more nervous I get!’
Grumbling to herself, Chloe clenched her fists.
‘Yeah! I’ll break the awkward atmosphere with some small talk!’
“The weather’s nice today, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s pretty hot.”
“……”
As Leo frowned at the blazing sunlight and looked up at the sky, Chloe bopped her forehead with her book.
‘Why did I bring up the weather!’
As the mood got even more awkward, Chloe was at a loss.
“Nice atmosphere, juniors.”
A voice from behind startled Chloe, and she turned around.
There, Torua was lying face-down on a floating magic carpet.
“T-Torua, senior?”
“Hello, Chloe.”
“You know me?”
“Of course, Chloe Mueller! A good senior always remembers the names of talented juniors.”
“It’s an honor!”
“Mhm! As I thought, you’re a good junior.”
Torua smiled brightly and reached out to pat Chloe’s head.
“Compared to cute junior Chloe, Leo, you’re…”
Torua made a very displeased face.
‘What? Does she dislike Leo?’
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Chloe grew a little nervous.
“When are you coming to the Magic Department? You keep wavering, so you’re being left out.”
“I told you, I’m the one leaving out the rest of the year.”
“You don’t have any friends, do you?”
“I have lots. Chloe here is my friend right now.”
Watching them bicker, Chloe gave an awkward smile.
“Torua, are you close with Leo?”
“Of course. He’s a junior in the Magic Department.”
“Who says I’m in the Magic Department?”
“You.”
“Isn’t forcing someone to pick a department against school rules? Our homeroom teacher is Professor Harrid, by the way.”
“Tsk. Crafty kid.”
Torua clicked her tongue.
Even bold Torua was just another student in front of Professor Harrid.
“Anyway, I heard you deciphered the Founder of the Nebula’s magic recently. How did you do it? I tried too, but gave up halfway.”
“I’d like to hear about that too. It’s a famous spell that the Magic Tower researched for a long time.”
“Chloe, you’re from the Northern Magic Tower, right? I read the Northern interpretation, and it was different from the Southern one. Would you like to discuss it?”
“I’d love to!”
“Good, good. That’s how a mage should be. Here, climb on.”
Torua gladly let Chloe onto the carpet, and the two started chatting happily about magic.
Both had such a hunger for knowledge that their conversation flowed easily.
‘Mages really haven’t changed, then or now.’
As the two became engrossed in conversation, they soon realized they’d almost reached the practice site.
“Hm. Looks like we arrived before I could hear Leo’s interpretation. So what kind of spell was it? The Seiren Society hasn’t published anything yet, so this senior’s dying of curiosity, junior.”
Torua poked Leo in the side with her staff.
Chloe, eyes sparkling, also looked at Leo.
Leo gathered magic power in his hand.
Torua and Chloe blinked as a single flower bloomed from Leo’s hand.
“It was a spell to make flowers.”
Leo smiled, handed the flower and the book to Chloe, and entered the practice hall.
“He’s unexpectedly bold sometimes, isn’t he?”
Torua laughed quietly and winked at the red-faced Chloe.
“Good luck, adorable junior.”
* * *
The Magic Department students in the practice area all wore tense expressions.
The reason was none other than Torua, who could be called a legendary senior.
“Leo, did Senior Jamua come to Knight class today?”
“No. Not today.”
As Chelsea looked puzzled—
“It’s really hot today. Feels like southern weather.”
Torua, riding on a magic carpet, muttered quietly.
Hearing that, Carr quickly stepped forward.
“Here’s a parasol, Senior!”
“Hm?”
“And some orange juice.”
Creating shade with the parasol, Carr took out an orange juice and handed it to Torua.
“Very well prepared.”
Torua looked pleased and put the straw to her lips.
Carr rubbed his hands together and said,
“That’ll be 5 silver.”
“Here.”
As if she’d expected it, Torua gave a small laugh and paid up.
“Sometimes I’m jealous of Carr’s shamelessness.”
As Chelsea crossed her arms and Leo let out a small laugh, Torua tilted her head.
“Hm. Still, something’s missing. Chelsea, can you come here for a moment?”
“Me?”
Chelsea approached Torua.
“Can you make a cool breeze?”
“Huh?”
“Here, 5 silver.”
Ding~
Chelsea reluctantly caught the coin that flew into her palm.
“Payment for errands. Now, make a cool breeze.”
Chelsea had no choice but to create a cool breeze.
After that, Torua started tossing out 5 silver left and right, making all her juniors run errands.
“I always felt bad about bossing the first-years around, but now that I’m paying for it, I don’t have to feel guilty.”
At Torua’s satisfied smile, everyone glared at Carr.
‘This is your fault!’
Having to waste mana under the blazing sun was every mage’s nightmare.
Carr flinched and looked away.
Torua’s requests grew more and more bizarre.
Drawing strange magic circles on the ground, sculpting odd statues.
Just as Torua’s wild rampage—considered one of the most eccentric in the year—was reaching its peak,
“What are you doing, Torua Yan?”
Everyone flinched and turned toward the voice.
And all of them looked shocked.
The professor who appeared at the practice site wasn’t Len.
Torua’s eyes went wide at the unexpected visitor.
The one who entered the class—
It was none other than Professor Albi.