Book 1 Chapter 105

The day after the final exam ended.

Rumen immediately entered the vacation ceremony.

Of course, not all students gathered.

The vacation ceremony was held under the guidance of their respective professors.

And the students of Class 5 all looked at Halind, standing at the front of the class with tense faces.

This was because the grades were announced at the vacation ceremony.

Professor Halind looked at the students with his characteristic dry voice and said.

"Well then, I will announce the grades you are all looking forward to."

At his words, the atmosphere in the classroom became somber.

Grade announcement.

Everyone survived the midterm exams, but that was no guarantee for the final exams.

"Before that, are there any students recommended for withdrawal from our class?"

Halind said, curling the corners of his mouth as he scanned the nervous students.

"None."

"Yes!"

"Ooooooooh!"

"We survived!"

The lower-ranking students, who had been anxiously awaiting the announcement, jumped up from their seats and cheered.

Seeing that, Halind said.

"You guys who are screaming right now. Go to the back and put your heads down."

The faces of the students who had screamed turned pale.

The students put their heads down and grunted.

"Sena, hand out the report cards to the students."

"Yes."

Sena smiled and handed out the printouts to the students.

The students nervously checked their individual grades.

"The magic department ranking has slipped to 3rd place this time, well. Is that natural?"

Chelsea said, scratching her head.

Since the inter-departmental competition, which replaced the practical magic exam, was canceled due to an accident, the weight of the written exam increased compared to the midterm.

As a result, Chloe and Abad had an absolute advantage in the written exams.

"Leo oppa, what's your ranking in the magic department?"

"8th."

"That's high."

Leo's written exam scores were not good because he was not yet familiar with modern magic theory.

Of course, 8th place was still an incredible achievement.

Leo also ranked within the top 10 in all other written exams.

Of course, he was 1st in the practical exam.

"The overall score is 1st. I'm the class representative again in the second semester."

"Congratulations, Leo oppa!"

"The class representative is the year representative again? Well, considering his performance back then, it's natural."

It was when the students of Class 5 were discussing their grades.

Creak!

The front door of the classroom opened, and Professor Sedgen entered.

"Hahaha! Halind! You've seen the class rankings, right? Our elegant Class 1 is 1st again! Class 5 is 2nd! Hahahaha! In the end, Class 1 won the first semester! Hahahaha!"

Sedgen, who had a strong sense of rivalry with Halind, rushed in after seeing the class rankings.

Of course, everyone in Class 5 took it as usual.

This was not the first time Professor Sedgen had acted like this.

Halind, as usual, cleanly ignored him and simply relayed the announcements to the students.

'At first, it was annoying, but now it looks pathetic.'

'Poor Professor Sedgen.'

As Class 5 looked on with pity, Leo raised his hand.

"Professor Sedgen. Then please buy us something delicious."

At his words, Sedgen scowled.

"I won the victory, so why should I buy you food?"

"Isn't it customary for the winner to be generous to the loser?"

"Hmm! That's not wrong! Alright! I will bestow my generosity upon the students of Class 5 with drinks…"

"I heard earlier that Class 1 is going to the finest restaurant in Rumeria City for a get-together, so please take us too."

"Ooh! As expected of Professor Sedgen. So generous."

"As expected of the homeroom professor of the best class in the first year!"

The students of Class 5 quickly caught on and began to work on getting Sedgen to treat them.

'Hmph, pathetic fools. Do you think I'll fall for such petty tricks?'

Of course, Sedgen wore a look of disdain.

At that moment, Sena poked Halind in the side.

Halind looked annoyed, but as the earnest gazes of the students fell upon him, he sighed and said.

"Sedgen, your teaching ability seems to be great."

"What did you say? Halind?"

"I said your teaching ability is great, didn't I?"

"Hahahaha!"

Sedgen, who was in the best mood, laughed heartily.

This was because he knew well that his long-time colleague would not say such a thing as empty praise.

Of course, Halind's words were empty praise.

"Whatever! Alright! Class 5 will also join the get-together!"

"Waaaaaah!"

Class 5 cheered.

Sedgen, in a good mood, burst into laughter and returned to Class 1.

"When will that guy ever grow up?"

"Doesn't that mean he acknowledges Professor Halind?"

As Sena said with a smile, Halind looked at his students with cold eyes.

"Are you using me to fill your stomachs?"

At his words, the entire Class 5 flinched.

Halind, who had been glaring at Class 5 with intensity, chuckled.

"Eat as if you're prepared to bankrupt him."

"Yes!"

"Don't worry, Professor Halind!"

The entire class atmosphere became heated.

Watching the students, Halind continued with the announcements.

"As you can see from the home guidance letter on your report cards, professors will be making home visits during the semester. The schedule is written on the notice. So please be at home accordingly. If something comes up, notify the school in advance via communication magic."

"Yes."

"And I don't think there will be any fools in our class who cause trouble or bring shame to the school during the vacation period… but if you do cause trouble, expect to face the first day of the second semester. Lastly."

Halind flicked his fingers lightly.

Thump-!

Several heavy books fell onto the desks of all of Class 5.

The faces of all the students stiffened.

"This is your vacation homework."

"Th-this is all of it?"

Iliana asked with a look of dismay.

"You don't have to do it. Of course, if you're confident you can handle the consequences."

Seeing Halind's dry smile, the students pouted.

"The vacation ceremony ends here. You all worked hard during the first semester."

Rumen's brief vacation ceremony concluded.

***

After a fun get-together, as evening approached.

"It's almost time for the warp gate."

Cal said with a look of regret in front of the warp gate.

The warp gates had different entrances for each region.

"Hoo! It really was full of talk and trouble!"

Tade said, stretching.

"Still, it's good that everyone survived. I thought Cal was definitely in danger this time."

Iliana chuckled.

"Anyway, have a good vacation, everyone. Don't forget your homework."

Nella said with a smile.

"Then see you in the second semester! I'll write!"

Chelsea waved at Nella.

Leo, who had seen his friends off, watched the sunset over Rumeria Lake through the warp gate.

"It was a hectic semester."

"Yeah. But it was fun!"

Chelsea, walking with Leo as they were from the same region, said with a giggle.

"Are you going to be at home during the vacation, Leo oppa?"

"Yes."

"Can I come visit?"

"It's fine to visit, but I don't know how my mother will react?"

"Huh? Leo oppa's mother… Ah!"

Chelsea exclaimed.

She remembered that Leo's maternal relatives were in Zerdinger.

"Wouldn't she find me cute, though? I'm cute."

"Don't you feel embarrassed saying that about yourself?"

"It's the truth, though!"

Leo chuckled at Chelsea's confident words and headed towards the warp gate.

Sellya and Abad were waiting there.

"You're finally here."

Sellya swept her hair back.

"All the imperial students are waiting. Chelsea, you're the last one."

"Yes. Sorry."

Chelsea ran to Abad's side.

Sellya looked at Leo and said.

"You could stop by my house."

"Still, you should go home first."

"Indeed."

Sellya, looking regretful, smiled.

"Then I'll come visit in a few days."

"Okay."

As cousins, Sellya could visit the Phlove family freely.

Abad smiled at Leo.

"Have a good vacation."

"Abad, you too."

After exchanging greetings, the three headed towards the warp gate of the Rodren Empire.

Leo boarded the warp gate bound for the Delad Kingdom alone.

'It's been a while since I've been home.'

After parting with his friends, the vacation finally felt real.

-We would like to inform you, dear guests traveling to the Delad Kingdom. Please board the warp gate immediately.

'From the second semester, I'll be able to encounter more Hero Records.'

As he looked forward to the second semester, the warp gate activated.

Flash-!

Leo arrived in Delan, the capital of the Delad Kingdom, and immediately exited the warp gate.

And in front of the warp gate, a huge crowd was waiting.

"Waaaaah!"

"It's Leo Phlove!"

"Rumen's first-year representative!"

"The future of the Delad Kingdom!"

Leo wore a bitter expression as he looked at the crowd cheering in front of the warp gate.

'No, I expected it… but this is too much?'

The Delad Kingdom is a small, frontier nation.

It's a great feat for such a country to produce talent worthy of entering Rumen.

And Leo was not only an unprecedented all-class student but also the year representative of Rumen.

On top of that, he gained fame from the inter-departmental competition incident.

Considering that the Delad Kingdom had never had a single hero in its history, it was truly an encouraging event for the kingdom.

Leo sighed, found the Phlove family carriage, and headed towards it.

Then people from other families rushed over and handed him party invitations.

"Young Master Leo! Marquis Jelma has invited Young Master Leo to a dinner banquet…!"

"We're from the Dorben Duchy! The Duchess specifically wants to invite Young Master Leo!"

"I'm sorry. I want to rest at home."

Leo refused the invitations and barely managed to get into the carriage.

'It's fortunate that no invitation came from the royal family.'

It would be difficult to refuse an invitation from the royal family.

As Leo got into the carriage and sighed, he heard giggling.

"You're thinking it's fortunate that no one from the royal family came, aren't you?"

"You've been well, Mother."

"Hey! Speaking so stiffly to your mother after seeing her for the first time in a while!"

Reina, who was already in the carriage, playfully pinched Leo's nose.

Leo burst out laughing and rubbed his nose.

"By the way, I thought someone from the royal family would have come, but they didn't?"

"I asked Jis to send a letter to the King."

"I should thank Uncle Jis."

"Yes, make sure to tell him next time."

Reina smiled and hugged Leo tightly.

"Anyway, welcome home, Leo."

Leo let out a hollow laugh as he looked at Reina, who was hugging him and smiling happily.

Come to think of it, this was the first time in this life that he had been separated from his parents for so long.

"I'm home, Mom."

The carriage departed for the Phlove family.

Leo's vacation officially began.

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