Chapter 91
The special training conducted by each department in preparation for the [Department Competition].
The ones who struggled the most were none other than the students of the [Summoning Department].
“Wow, look at them.”
“They look like a mess, don’t they?”
“I heard they couldn’t even use summoning arts and had to spend three days and two nights on [Familiar Island]?”
As the [Summoning Department] students entered the dormitory entrance, students from other departments whispered among themselves.
“I heard they have to do this every week until the [Department Competition]… How are they supposed to survive that?”
Tide muttered in a miserable voice.
It was impossible to get used to the wild after just three days and two nights.
Compared to the majority of students who looked like beggars, there were a few who were relatively unscathed.
The most notable examples were Leo, Chen Xia, and Walden.
Some groups of students snickered as they looked at the [Summoning Department].
“Wow! The smell!”
“Their appearance is no joke!”
As the [Summoning Department] students made fierce faces at being treated like a spectacle, it happened.
“What’s so funny that you’re laughing like that?”
“Huh?”
“E-Eliza.”
Eliza, whose appearance was just as bad, asked in a cold voice.
“Are you saying we look ridiculous right now?”
“N-No! It’s just that we… um…!”
“S-Sorry!”
The students who had been mocking the [Summoning Department] quickly glanced at each other and ran away at Eliza’s sharp reaction.
This was because Eliza was considered the top among the first-years and from a prestigious [Heroic House]—if you fell out of her favor, your school life would be ruined in many ways.
As Eliza glared, the other students also scattered in a hurry.
Leo immediately washed up and went down to the dormitory lounge.
There, as always, Carr was selling things to the students.
“Oh! Leo, you’re back?”
Carr greeted Leo with a smile.
“I heard you went through hell?”
“I had fun.”
“Of course you did! Tide was about to pass out!”
Carr, who was laughing, suddenly spoke.
“By the way, Leo. Didn’t you ask about Elena?”
“I did.”
“She returned to school this morning. All the students are gathering at [Erek] tomorrow morning, so you’ll probably see her there.”
“Really? That’s great.”
Leo’s eyes sparkled.
The next day.
At 7 a.m., all students gathered at [Erek], the massive training grounds at the center of the school.
With each year lined up, all the first-years had tense expressions.
It was the first official event at [Erek] since the entrance ceremony.
Especially since the entire student body was gathered.
“Wow, the juniors keep staring.”
“I-I’m nervous.”
The seniors giggled as they watched the stiff first-years.
“First-years are always so cute.”
“Look how nervous they are. How should we pamper them?”
Most first-years were like mice before cats, unable to move in front of the seniors.
But not all places had the usual junior-senior relationships.
“Lady Celia. I should have greeted you sooner, but the school rules don’t allow upperclassmen into the first-year area during the first semester, so I’m only now saying hello.”
Niel Roda greeted Celia with a formal bow.
Celia sighed as she looked at Niel.
“Niel, don’t do this! What would people think if a third-year is bowing to a first-year?”
“Oh my! Lady Celia, you’re always so thoughtful!”
Niel Roda.
She was a third-year in the [Knights Department] at [Lumene], four years older than Celia.
She was the heir of the Roda family, a vassal to the [Zerdinger] family, and had trained in swordsmanship with Celia since childhood as her escort knight.
“The uniform looks wonderful on you, my lady! I wish I could take a picture of this moment!”
“Bringing magical items to the event is forbidden.”
“Yes, so I tried to sneak it in and got caught.”
“…”
“Tsk. Those damn professors.”
Celia felt a headache coming on.
Normally, Niel was cool-headed, but when it came to Celia, she would become overly affectionate.
‘If you break the school rules, you’ll get demerits!’
…Even if she said that, she knew Niel would definitely reply, ‘If it’s for you, my lady, demerits mean nothing!’
“But my lady, you’re too much. You never once came looking for me.”
“I wanted to spend time with my classmates.”
To be precise, she purposely avoided Niel, who would ignore all of school life just to care for her.
As the two talked, it happened.
“Celia, isn’t it a bit too familiar to get along with your vassal like that? The relationship between lord and retainer should be strict.”
A boy with black hair and red eyes like Celia approached.
Celia looked at him with a blank face.
“It’s been a while, Varden.”
Varden Zerdinger.
A collateral member of the [Zerdinger] family, three years older than Celia and her sixth cousin.
“Yeah, it’s the first time since last winter break, right?”
Varden, approaching Celia with a smile, frowned.
“What? Aren’t you going to say hello to me?”
“Why should Niel greet you?”
At Celia’s cold voice, Varden flinched.
“Niel is a vassal of the main [Zerdinger] family. She has no obligation to be polite to a collateral like you. Rather, as a second-year, shouldn’t you be the one greeting Niel?”
Celia’s red eyes glinted as she brushed her hair back.
Seeing that, Varden broke out in a cold sweat.
“Yeah, I think I crossed the line! Sorry, haha!”
Even as he laughed, Varden didn’t show Niel the respect of a senior.
Niel looked at Varden with a look of disdain.
At [Lumene], Varden was famous for using the [Zerdinger] bloodline as an excuse to act high and mighty.
‘He acts like he’s some real [Zerdinger] just because everyone flatters him, even though he hasn’t learned [Phoenix Breath].’
In the [Zerdinger] family, regardless of being direct or collateral, no one could hold an important position without mastering [Phoenix Breath].
“Congratulations on being first in the [Knights Department]!”
Varden quickly changed the subject.
Niel’s eyes sparkled at those words.
“I knew Lady Celia would be first!”
“What’s the point of being first in the [Knights Department]? Someone else is the class representative anyway.”
Celia folded her arms and snorted.
Varden chuckled at Celia’s disgruntled reaction.
“Is this because of Leo Plov? Don’t worry about him.”
Varden gave a dismissive look.
“Who cares if he’s [All-Class] or whatever? Some nobody from the countryside is bound to hit his limits soon. My friends in the [Summoning Department] said he was rude enough to pick a fight with a second-year. Acting like he owns the place just because he’s the first-year representative.”
Celia’s face turned icy cold.
Whether he noticed or not, Varden continued excitedly.
“Young master Rhys, welcome!”
“Niel, how have you been?”
“Good.”
“Rhys!”
“It’s been a while, Varden.”
Rhys smiled and gestured beside him.
“I saw you all gathered here, so I wanted to introduce you. This is Leo Plov, cousin to me and Celia.”
At Rhys’s words, both Niel and Varden looked surprised.
“Leo may not bear the [Zerdinger] name, but he’s learned [Phoenix Breath].”
Varden’s eyes widened.
‘He learned [Phoenix Breath]! How?!’
Varden had long begged the main family to let him learn [Phoenix Breath].
He was rejected every time.
But now, someone he’d never even seen at family gatherings suddenly appeared as the heir to [Phoenix Breath]—it was unbelievable.
‘Now he’ll shut up.’
Niel sneered as she watched Varden trembling.
Ever since enrolling at [Lumene], the rumors about Varden weren’t good.
‘He always throws his [Zerdinger] name around to push others, but his grades are just barely above the bottom.’
From the outside, being a [Lumene] student might seem amazing.
But that only applied to outsiders.
Within [Lumene], it wasn’t much to brag about.
‘That’s why he relies on his family. Pathetic. Compared to him…’
Niel’s eyes sparkled.
‘What an unusual young master.’
Since the entrance ceremony, Leo had been the talk of the semester.
But when someone stands out, there are always those who try to keep them in check.
Many looked down on Leo just because he came from an unimpressive family.
But Niel had never once heard a rumor that Leo was connected to the [Zerdinger] family.
“My lady, does Leo not reveal he’s a [Zerdinger]?”
“Yeah. He hides it. Actually, it’s more like he goes out of his way to hide it.”
“I see.”
While Niel was admiring that, a professor at the center podium of [Erek] spoke into a magically amplified mic.
[The student council president is requested to come to the podium immediately. Student representatives, please gather at the tent beside the stage.]
“Looks like we have to go. See you all later.”
“Celia, I’m off.”
“Okay.”
Leo and Rhys headed straight to the podium.
“Leo, you go over there.”
Rhys pointed to a tent beside the stage that looked like a prep room.
“Yes.”
“See you in a bit.”
After parting with Rhys, Leo entered the tent.
There were two students inside.
The first thing he noticed was a small-framed boy with bright, curly light brown hair.
On his left chest was a fourth-year badge, and the sword-and-shield emblem on his right shoulder marked him as [Knights Department].
What was unusual was that he wore an eye patch and was sleeping soundly, snoring.
In front of this fourth-year representative, a girl who appeared to be the second-year representative was kneeling respectfully.
She had light green hair and blue eyes, and the four-element emblem on her right shoulder signified the [Summoning Department].
She stood up when she saw Leo.
“Are you the first-year representative, Leo Plov?”
“Yes.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m , the second-year representative.”
Lil extended her hand in a disciplined manner.
Leo, wearing a strange expression, shook her hand.
“I’m Leo Plov.”
“This is fourth-year senior Harc Riguard. As you can see, he’s asleep. He’s almost always asleep, so you don’t need to mind him. I’ve rarely seen him awake myself.”
“Okay. But you can speak casually with me, you know?”
“I’m comfortable like this. Anyway, Leo, I’ve been wanting to meet you!”
“Me? Why?”
“Are you really [All-Class]? Is that true?”
Lil asked, her face a bit excited.
“If you don’t mind, could you use all three powers at once?”
At her request, Leo summoned [Aura], [Magic Power], and [Spirit Power] at the same time.
Lil was amazed, then her shoulders slumped.
“I’m really jealous.”
“Why?”
“Even though I’m the year representative, I’m just an ordinary spirit arts user—no special traits, just plain and average.”
“If you’re the year representative, doesn’t that mean you’re quite skilled?”
“No! I lack impact! senior Harc is always sleeping, so his character is unique! senior Rhys is, of course, the best in terms of skill! Even you, a first-year, are [All-Class]! Ah, I’m so plain! Only I’m plain! Plain, plain, plain!”
‘No matter how you look at it, she’s not plain at all…’
People who insist they’re average are never actually average.
Leo asked, watching Lil clutch her head and squat down.
“What about senior Elena?”
“That senior is… a bit dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”
“Oh my? What’s so dangerous about me, Lil?”
“Gasp.”
Leo looked toward the voice.
Standing there was a third-year girl.
Brilliant blonde hair. Sparkling pink eyes.
Jade-like skin and well-defined features.
There was no word to describe her except beautiful.
“It’s been a while, senior Elena. How was your dispatch?”
“Boring.”
Elena answered curtly and clicked her heels as she approached Leo.
“So you’re the famous first-year representative?”
Elena’s eyes sparkled as she got closer to Leo.
She poked Leo’s cheek with her finger.
“Oh my~ How cute.”
Elena chuckled as she stroked Leo’s cheek and asked,
“Leo, do you want to be mine?”