Book 1 Chapter 157

157

Tap- Tap- Tap-

The sound of chalk echoed throughout the entire cafe.

The Emerald students, who had been snickering in suppressed laughter, wore increasingly blank expressions as time passed.

Tap-

Leo, having put down the chalk, stepped back from the blackboard.

And he looked at Silla, who was gaping.

"How is it?"

"Th-this kind of approach is possible too?"

Startled, Silla snapped out of it and rushed towards the blackboard.

'What on earth is this? How did he interpret it? This magic can be activated?'

Emerald Academy conducts group project research with teams of 20 students each.

And the problem Leo had just solved was precisely the group project for Silla's team.

He had effortlessly solved such a task.

From the perspective of the Emerald students, their jaws couldn't help but drop.

To be honest, even after watching Leo solve the spell formula right next to him, Silla couldn't properly understand even half of it.

'Damn it! How did he do it?!'

He understood that the spell formula was activated.

But he couldn't possibly figure out how it was activated.

Silla, who had been staring intently at the blackboard, caught a glimpse of Leo casually twirling the chalk and gritted her teeth.

She wanted to hear a detailed explanation, but her pride wouldn't let her ask.

"But you know."

"Uh, yeah?"

"Instead of approaching it this way, I think it would be possible to activate the magic more efficiently?"

"What?"

Leo smiled faintly, erased everything on the blackboard, and began writing a new spell formula.

"The magic from earlier was a spell formula to get a lot of output using little heat magic, right? If it's heat, it's fire-type magic, so fire spell formulas are bound to be used a lot. But that increases mana consumption. So, you use wind magic to compress it."

Leo began writing the magic spell formula on the blackboard.

The Emerald students who saw it had their jaws drop.

Complex magic, difficult even to understand.

'How is that efficient at all?!'

'My head's going to explode!'

"Compressing it with wind spell formulas like this can further increase the firepower. And that can also reduce mana consumption."

Leo shrugged.

"Wait! Wait! If you do it this way, you can definitely reduce mana consumption! But good efficiency isn't just about that! The time it takes for the magic to cast or its simplicity are also considerations!"

Leo chuckled at Silla's point.

"Isn't there something good called an activation spell formula in the world today?"

"Converting this complex spell formula into an activation spell formula is no ordinary feat, you know?"

Silla narrowed her eyes.

Leo chuckled, looking at Silla.

"It's not that difficult."

"What?"

Leo instantly activated the magic he had just interpreted.

A flame flickered in Leo's hand, then was compressed by the wind and transformed into a ball of energy.

Silla's jaw dropped at the sight of it.

"Its practicality is still lacking for actual combat, but with a little more research, I think a pretty good result could come out of it?"

As Leo dispelled the magic and shrugged, Silla's body trembled.

Then she seemed to understand and said.

"Oh, I see! You were researching this kind of magic too? Yes! As expected of Lumerne! To already be researching magic in this area."

Silla let out an awkward laugh.

"Ahahaha! To have merely followed Lumerne's research. How embarrassing."

"Lumerne doesn't really do this kind of research, though?"

"What?"

"Lumerne does research various experimental magic theories, but not at the school level. Lumerne primarily focuses on specializing or applying existing magic to combat, rather than developing new magic."

Leo shrugged.

It was certainly true.

The ultimate goal of Lumerne's Department of Magic was to train heroes.

Therefore, they mainly research applying existing magic formulas and using them in actual combat.

Although Professor Ren emphasizes an academic approach, it doesn't become the mainstream.

As a result, such unique experiments are not often conducted at Lumerne.

"W-wait a minute. Then how did you interpret this spell formula and convert it into an activation formula? You did it on the spot right here?"

Silla's eyes widened.

"Yeah."

As Leo calmly nodded, Silla stumbled back.

Other Emerald students also started to murmur.

"Don't be ridiculous! You just glanced at it and interpreted it, didn't you? If it wasn't something you already knew, it couldn't possibly be possible… Wait. If it was mental calculation, it could be possible, but that's impossible…"

"I did it with mental calculation."

"……!"

*Crack!*

The faces of all the Emerald students, including Silla, stiffened.

"That's a lie… It's a lie! A person couldn't possibly do that! Waaaaaah!"

Silla, deeply shocked, fled the cafe as if running away.

"Hey! Team leader, where are you going?!"

"L-let's go together!"

"Hiiiieek?"

The Emerald students who were desperately fleeing after Silla made eye contact with Leo and flinched in terror.

Leo scratched his cheek, looking at the Emerald students who were staring at him as if he were a monster.

"Was I a bit too harsh?"

***

It was time for the gathering.

All 600 external students gathered in front of the dock to go to Lumerne.

"I heard all the students who came this time are first-years?"

On the dock bench, Celia sat to Leo's left and Chelsea to his right.

"Celia. Didn't you have any kids pick fights with you while wandering around Lumeria City?"

"Pick fights? Not really?"

"Chelsea, you?"

Chelsea, sitting on the bench, dangling her legs and looking at the Emerald students, shook her head.

"Me neither. Why? Were there any stupid kids who picked a fight with big brother Leo?"

"Yeah."

"They really have bad luck. Of all people, why did they have to bother you?"

Celia said indifferently.

Leo crossed his arms, looking at Celia.

"Why me?"

"There are many kids in our school who despair when they see you, so it's like they've already been discouraged before the joint class."

Seeing Celia shrug, Chelsea covered her mouth and chuckled!

Just then, the escorting professors appeared at the dock.

Ein, Yura, Ren.

Seeing the three professors, Chelsea spoke with a serious expression.

"Sometimes I don't understand our school. Those three professors cause incidents and accidents when they're together, so why do they always put them together for big events?"

The three professors, who caused a chemical reaction when two were together and an even bigger one when all three were, often moved together.

Hearing Chelsea's words, Celia wore an expression of agreement.

"All instructors, gather."

As soon as Ein spoke, ten students stepped forward.

The curious gazes of the students from the three academies fixed on them.

"P-pretty."

"Lady Celia…! You're beautiful!"

"Is that Chelsea Llewellyn?"

"Who's that magic department girl?"

"That small girl is from the Knight Department?"

"The successor of the Hergin family seems somewhat unapproachable."

The male students stared absentmindedly at the Lumerne female students.

But the Lumerne female students' reactions were indifferent.

Celia brushed her hair back as if uninterested.

Chelsea crossed her arms and wore a sullen expression.

Chloe read her grimoire as usual, as if uninterested, and Eliza tidied her fingers without even glancing.

Only Chen Xia smiled faintly and waved.

Meanwhile, the female students' reactions were similar.

"Wow… he looks like he's stepped out of a painting."

"Wow. Super handsome."

"S-scary looking."

The conspicuous Avard, Duran, and Warreden monopolized the attention of the female students.

"Is that white-haired boy Leo Flov?"

"All-class!"

"How should I say it? He's a cute-looking pretty boy. I thought he'd be a bit more rugged."

Just then, some female students were heard shrieking.

Instantly, Chelsea, Chloe, and Chen Xia looked in that direction.

Meanwhile, Celia crossed her arms and said.

"I don't know what's so great about that butter-up that they're making such a fuss."

"Why is our big brother 'butter'!"

Chelsea flared up.

"Be quiet."

Ein said coldly.

Seeing Ein, the students from the three academies instantly fell silent.

"Although these students are like you, they have been appointed as instructors. So, follow their instructions well."

At Ein's words, a female student raised her hand.

"Professor! We like that instructor! We'd like that instructor to lead us, please?"

The one who raised her hand was none other than a female student from Ikot, the Knight Academy.

Pointing at Avard with her finger, Ein looked at her and said.

"Avard Llewellyn is from the Department of Magic. He has no relation to you Ikot students."

At that, the female student snickered.

"What does that matter? We're all Lumerne students anyway, aren't we? What if our departments are a little different?"

The Lumerne students' eyes widened as they looked at the female student.

Those who appeared to be her followers also crossed their arms and nodded.

Even Duran's jaw dropped.

Throwing a tantrum and rebelling against a legitimate professor's words at Lumerne was an unthinkable act.

Especially if it was Professor Ein!

"Wow… seriously."

"It seems like she wants to die."

Eliza's lips curled up at Chelsea's exclamation.

But Yura and Ren wore expressions that suggested they had expected it.

"You, what's your name?"

"I am Sirina Pia! The princess of the Cheya Duchy!"

Sirina puffed out her chest and wore a smug expression.

Cheya Duchy.

A duchy located in the eastern part of the continent, a fairly large one.

At Sirina's words, Ein said.

"Student Sirina. This is a warning. If three warnings accumulate, you will immediately pack your bags and return to your school, so be aware of that."

Professor Ein, who had spoken calmly, was about to explain the schedule.

"Wait a minute! Why on earth should I receive a warning? And pack my bags! Do you even know who I am?!"

Sirina flared up.

"Second warning. Don't let there be a third!"

"No! Seriously! Why do I have to receive a warning?!"

Sirina wore a hysterical expression.

Lumerne was a school everyone admired.

Although it was a joint class, receiving lessons in such a place was a huge deal.

But the fact that she was receiving a warning and leaving school even before attending the class made Sirina frustrated.

"Third warning. I will process your expulsion."

Ein took out a list from his pocket.

"Hey! No matter if you're a professor at Lumerne, you don't have the right to kick me out as you please!"

An agitated Sirina pointed her finger at Ein and approached him.

Yura mumbled, watching the scene.

"She's crossing the line."

"There have always been students like that, haven't there? But this year, it seems a bit more severe."

Ren sighed.

*Grab!*

"Huh?"

"Listen carefully, Sirina Pia. Whether you are the princess of the Cheya Duchy, or a princess of any kingdom. I do not care in the slightest."

At Ein's cold voice, Sirina's face turned pale.

"This is Lumerne, and a professor's words at Lumerne are absolute. Perhaps in Ikot, but such paltry power holds no sway whatsoever at Lumerne. So, get out of my sight."

*Splash!*

"Kyaaaaak!"

*Splash!*

Ein, who had thrown Sirina into the water, spoke to the students of the three academies who had frozen in shock.

"I will give a warning. This is Lumerne, not Ikot, Emerald, or Scound. The status of a student is no more and no less than a student, and there is no hierarchy among them. From this moment on, I will treat you all as equals to Lumerne students. So, if there is anyone who wishes to boast of their insignificant family, get out of here right now. That is all."

At Ein's words, the students from the other academies held their breath.

Chelsea, who saw it, murmured.

"It seems worse than what we heard."

"What?"

As Leo wore a puzzled expression, Chloe, who was next to him, closed her grimoire and spoke.

"Students from the three prestigious Class Academies don't have their hierarchy determined by skill like Lumerne."

"What?"

"Many children of high-ranking officials from various countries enroll, you see. Of course, it's the same for our school, but apparently, the influence of powerful figures is stronger for them."

Chelsea crossed her arms and clicked her tongue.

"That's why I heard there are a lot of immature kids who boast about their families without an ounce of skill. I even heard that the professors have to walk on eggshells around them?"

At those words, Leo mumbled.

"It's going to be noisy for a few days."