Book 1 Chapter 158

158

Swoosh-!

Cutting across Lake Rumeria, the ferry headed for Rumerun.

Students from each academy gathered on the deck, chatting amongst themselves.

However, the overall atmosphere among them was not good.

This was because they had just witnessed a student being expelled shortly before.

"Excuse me."

An Icot student cautiously spoke to Chen Xia, one of the students leading them.

"What is it?"

"What's the name of the professor who just expelled Sirina?"

"It's Professor Aine."

"Huh!"

At Chen Xia's words, the Icot students looked startled.

Aine Elangdue.

They never dreamed that he, renowned as the Knight of the Icy Sea, would come as a mere escorting professor.

"For someone like him to come as an escorting teacher, does that mean our academy will be taught by him?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Amazing! As expected of Rumerun!"

"To be able to learn from the Knight of the Icy Sea!"

The gloomy atmosphere from moments ago completely vanished.

Where else could they receive lessons from a knight like Aine?

Exclamations also poured out from Emerald and Scoun, besides Icot.

This was likely because they, too, had heard that their escorting teachers were Ren and Yura.

Students from the three major academies showed excited reactions.

As the stiff atmosphere relaxed, the ship gradually approached Rumerun.

As the thick fog lifted and the enormous Rumerun Academy unfolded before their eyes, students from the three major academies burst into gasps of admiration.

"That's Rumerun Academy."

"The place where hero candidates study."

Some swallowed hard.

Among them, there were also those who looked on with an inexplicable yearning.

They were the prospective students for Rumerun.

Upon arriving at the pier, the students streamed out of the ship and into the school.

"There's nothing special."

"It's ordinary, isn't it?"

"I think our academy is better."

Amidst the voices of a few, they entered the great hall of the first-year classroom building.

Sedgen stood on the stage of the great hall, and the Rumerun first-years sat in their seats, divided by department.

"Welcome. Students of the three major academies. My name is Sedgen."

When Professor Sedgen spoke in a low voice, it became noisy again.

"Sedgen? The Sedgen renowned as a famous professor at Rumerun?"

"I heard countless heroes have passed through his hands…"

"Amazing… astonishing!"

As exclamations erupted from all over, Sedgen chuckled.

"Take your seats. Icot on the left, Emerald in the center, Scoun on the right."

Listening to Sedgen's words, the students from the other academies sat down with tense expressions.

'To be sitting in the same room as Rumerun students.'

'I never thought this day would come.'

Their hearts pounded just from sitting in the same place as students praised as hero candidates.

On the other hand, there were also those who had other thoughts.

'How much of a difference is there between them and me?'

Among the students of the three major academies, some were preparing for admission to Rumerun, but not a few had tried several times, ultimately faced rejection, and enrolled in the three major class academies.

Having been called the best among their peers since childhood, not a few were dissatisfied with their current results.

Amidst a mix of envy and jealousy, Sedgen spoke.

"Welcome, students. I am very pleased that such a meaningful gathering has been arranged. Although it is a short time, a chance to exchange values has been provided, and I hope this becomes an opportunity for you to leap towards a better path."

Sedgen scanned the students as he spoke.

"I hope this will be a time where you can gain a lot. That is all."

***

The students of Icot, Emerald, and Scoun meticulously followed Rumerun's academic schedule.

Although they were invited as guests, Rumerun had no intention whatsoever of changing its academic schedule for them.

The first thing they did was mix the 600 students and assign them to classes.

Though grouped as the three prestigious academies, surprisingly, there was not much common ground among the students of Icot, Emerald, and Scoun.

This was because, while Rumerun's various departments were united through classes despite being different departments, students from other academies rarely had opportunities to interact.

They had a sense of competition towards each other, but actual exchanges were extremely rare.

As such, when 60 students from other academies gathered in one place, a very awkward atmosphere formed.

"Wow. Look how awkward the atmosphere is."

In the classroom, Kyle mumbled as usual, leaning deeply against the backrest of his chair, his hands clasped behind his head.

Kyle, tilting his chair back and forth, grinned.

"I can't just stand by and watch!"

The gregarious Kyle sprang to his feet.

The students of Class 5 looked at him with the expression that he was about to do something again… but the students from other academies, not understanding, focused on Kyle's actions.

Kyle, who strode to the front of the stage, said,

"Hello! Everyone. My name is Kyle Thomas! I'm 15 years old! My major is magic!"

Kyle grinned.

"It's a short time, but since we're in the same class, please take care of me! So, about that!"

Kyle opened a sub-space and placed a potion bottle on the teacher's desk.

Thud-!

"It's my special fatigue recovery potion! It's a popular item not only among first-years but also seniors, you know?"

The fatigue recovery potion, Kyle's popular business item since the beginning of the semester, had already gained fame for its effectiveness.

Thanks to this, it became a beloved item used by first-years, as well as second and third-years.

"It'll be tough studying for a short time! So, I'm going to sell it to you at a special discounted price. This isn't an everyday opportunity, you know?"

At Kyle's words, the students from other academies looked dumbfounded.

A person who is supposed to be a hero candidate suddenly engaging in commerce?

But the students of Class 5 wore familiar expressions.

"Kyle. So, are you selling it cheaply to us too?"

When Iliana asked with sparkling eyes, Kyle shook his head.

"No."

"Hey! Where's the discrimination!"

"Boo-!"

"You merchant!"

"Have you lost your beginner's spirit!"

Jeers erupted from Class 5.

Kyle laughed jovially, as if saying, 'I can't hear you!'

Watching this, the tense students from other academies seemed to relax and burst into laughter.

Just then.

"You said your name was Kyle Thomas, right?"

A male student in an Icot uniform, sitting at the back, chuckled, as if finding it ridiculous.

"Well, I'm scheduled to enroll in Rumerun next year, you see. Since you'll be my senior, I'll use honorifics for you."

"That's an honor, but who are you?"

"I am Harvidun Birsen."

"The Crown Prince of the Birsen Kingdom?"

Kyle looked surprised.

The Birsen Kingdom.

A powerful nation located in the northern continent, famous for its many renowned knight orders, a true knight stronghold.

In particular, the commanders of the Winter Knights and Snow Knights, considered the two major knight orders of Birsen, were heroes whose names were on the Hero Record.

Harvidun was also a crown prince who had them as his masters and whose talent as a knight had been recognized since childhood.

In other words, among the current Icot students, he was arguably the biggest figure.

"That truly is an honor."

"Yes. Please consider it an honor. But, about that."

Harvidun said to Kyle, who was scratching his cheek and smiling awkwardly.

"I came to see Rumerun seniors, not to meet a merchant, you know? Furthermore, senior. You're a commoner, aren't you?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Ha. To see a mere commoner acting so boldly. Are there no proper nobles or royals in this class?"

"It seems I've made the Crown Prince uncomfortable."

Kyle smiled slyly.

At Kyle's attitude, Harvidun's eyes twitched.

"Don't be arrogant just because you're a Rumerun student. I'll be a Rumerun student next year too."

"I haven't been arrogant at all."

"Ha. A mere commoner really is acting out of line."

Harvidun, wearing an exasperated expression, formed a fierce smile.

Harvidun's attitude was distinctly different from Sirina's earlier.

He had no intention of challenging a professor's authority, nor did he plan to violate school rules.

Furthermore, he had no intention of making enemies with renowned students.

Aiming for Rumerun admission, he knew it was foolish to rely on his status.

But he openly disregarded Kyle.

'With that level of magic, he's lucky to be stuck at Rumerun. He won't even be here by the time I enroll. Even if he is, he's in the magic department, so there'll be no reason for us to interact.'

While causing no trouble would be the wisest course, Harvidun, who had lived his entire life lording over others, had no intention of being patient with the seemingly easygoing Kyle.

"Why don't you take your merchant activities to some marketplace?"

As Harvidun spoke irritably, Kyle shrugged and was about to put away the potion bottle.

"Hey. If you don't like it, then you leave! This is our class, and you're not even a student of our school, so why are you acting like the owner?"

Harvidun's eyes twitched.

The one who stood up was a very famous girl.

"Chelsea Lewalyn."

Harvidun curled his lips.

Chelsea was of a status he dared not treat lightly.

Even if the countries were different, the difference between royalty and nobility was significant.

But Chelsea's homeland, the Lodren Empire, was a vast empire occupying most of the western continent.

Moreover, the Lewalyn family was a direct descendant of the Lewalyns, one of the two great pillars supporting that empire.

Her status was by no means inferior to Harvidun's.

Furthermore, her personal skills were also highly renowned.

She was, in effect, a first-year student attracting global attention.

But Harvidun had no intention of backing down.

Harvidun also had immense confidence in his own abilities.

Moreover, Chelsea was a mage and the same age as Harvidun.

Knowing this, Harvidun felt a sense of rivalry towards Chelsea.

"Are you taking her side just because you're in the same class?"

"Hmph. It's just annoying because you're being disrespectful to my friend, you know?"

"Friend? A commoner?"

"Where are commoners and nobles in friendship? Ugh-! How distasteful."

Chelsea stuck out her tongue and looked at Harvidun as if he were pathetic.

Watching Chelsea, Harvidun's eyes twitched.

"Chelsea."

Kyle made a touched expression.

"I'll give you a 50% discount coupon."

"Hey! Are you trying to ruin the atmosphere!"

Chelsea yelled and kicked Kyle's butt repeatedly.

"How absurd."

Harvidun was curling his lips when,

"If you're so displeased, why don't you check his skills?"

He looked towards the source of the voice.

Leo was there.

Harvidun's eyes twitched.

"My skills, you say?"

"Yes. You seem to underestimate Kyle's abilities."

Leo curled his lips.

"If you're so confident, you can see Rumerun's skills with your own eyes, can't you?"

"Oh-ho."

Harvidun gasped in admiration.

"That sounds good. But I will not fight Senior Kyle."

Harvidun glanced at Chelsea and said.

"Instead, I wish to spar with Chelsea Lewalyn."

"You're funny. You don't even know your place."

"Do it."

"Huh? Leo oppa!"

Chelsea's eyes widened as she looked at Leo.

"Go, Chelsea! Show them Rumerun's skill!"

"It's not me, it's you who should show them! You!"

Chelsea, with glaring eyes, punched Kyle.

"Instead, Senior Kyle will be handled by my friend."

Harvidun glanced at another Icot student sitting next to him.

He was a boy a head and a half taller than Kyle.

"Good."

Leo nodded.

Harvidun, who was staring at Leo, curled his lips.

"I'd also like to see the skill of Senior Leo Flob. How amazing that great All-Class is."

At Harvidun's words, Leo burst into laughter.

"Don't you think it's excessive for me to move just to deal with you?"

"What do you mean…"

"It means I don't want to waste time sparring with someone who isn't skilled enough."

"Kuk!"

Sparks flew in Harvidun's eyes.

"If I defeat Chelsea Lewalyn, then you are next!"

"Oh my. What big dreams you have."

Chelsea stuck out her tongue and snapped sharply.

"Prepare yourself, because I'll make you regret acting out of line without knowing your place!"

***

"I don't think this is good. He's been attracting attention recently."

"I know. So I'll just state my business."

"Say it quickly."

"Tell me the exact location of the target."

She chuckled at the ominous voice.

"It seems this tiresome mission will soon be over. That's good."

With a relieved expression, she said in a chilling voice.

"It's in the innermost core of the relic vault in the Grand Archives. I'll draw a map and hand it to you soon for the exact location."

"Alright. May the blessing of the Great Black Flame be with you."

"May the blessing of the Great Black Flame be with you."