Book 1 Chapter 158

158

Whoooosh-!

The passenger ship sliced through Lake Rumelia, heading towards Rumern.

Students from various academies gathered on the deck, chatting amongst themselves.

However, the overall mood was not good.

It was understandable, as they had just witnessed a student being expelled a moment ago.

"Excuse me."

A student from Ikort carefully approached Chen Xia, one of the students leading them.

"What is it?"

"What was the professor's name who expelled Sirina a moment ago?"

"Professor Ain."

"Gasp!"

Chen Xia's words made the Ikort students' expressions turn surprised.

Ain Elangdu.

They never dreamed that the renowned Knight of the Frozen Sea would only be an escort professor.

"If someone like that is our escort teacher, does that mean our academy will be learning from him?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Amazing! This is Rumern after all!"

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

The gloomy atmosphere from just a moment ago completely vanished.

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

Exclamations poured out not only from Ikort but also from Emerald and Scaun.

This was likely because they had heard that their escort teachers were Ren and Yura.

The students from the three major academies reacted with excitement.

As the tense atmosphere loosened, the ship gradually approached Rumern.

As the thick fog cleared and they saw the massive Rumern Academy spread out before them, the students from the three academies let out gasps of admiration.

"That's Rumern Academy."

"The place where aspiring heroes study."

Several people swallowed dryly.

Among them were some with eyes filled with unspoken longing.

They were the aspiring candidates for Rumern.

Upon arriving at the pier and disembarking, the students streamed into the school.

"There's nothing special."

"It's so ordinary?"

"Our academy seems better."

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

Sedjen stood on the stage of the grand hall, and the first-year students of Rumern were seated in the hall, sorted by their departments.

"Welcome, students of the three academies. My name is Sedjen."

As Professor Sedjen spoke in a low voice, a commotion erupted again.

"Sedjen? The renowned professor of Rumern?"

"I heard he's trained so many heroes…"

"Amazing… Incredible!"

As exclamations burst out from various places, Sedjen chuckled.

"Please take your seats. Ikort is on the left, Emerald in the center, and Scaun on the right."

Hearing Sedjen's words, the students from the other academies sat down with tense expressions.

'To be sitting in the same place as Rumern students.'

'I can't believe this day has come.'

Just sitting in the same place as students hailed as aspiring heroes made their hearts pound.

Meanwhile, some had different thoughts.

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

Among the students from the three academies, some were preparing for Rumern's entrance exam, but quite a few had failed multiple times and ended up enrolling in the three major academies.

Many, having been called the best among their peers since childhood, were not satisfied with their current results.

Amidst a mix of admiration and jealousy, Sedjen spoke.

"Welcome, everyone. I am very happy that such a meaningful event has been prepared. Although it is a short time, a place where you can exchange your values has been prepared, so I hope you can use this opportunity to leap towards a better path."

Sedjen looked over the students and said,

"I hope it will be a time where you can gain a lot. That's all."

***

The students from Ikort, Emerald, and Scaun strictly followed Rumern's academic schedule.

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

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

Although they were grouped as the three major prestigious academies, surprisingly, there were few connections between the students of Ikort, Emerald, and Scaun.

This was because while Rumern's classes were organized into a single unit through the classes, regardless of their departments, students from other academies rarely had a reason to interact.

While there was a sense of rivalry among them, exchange events were extremely rare.

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

"Wow, look at how awkward the atmosphere is."

Kal muttered in the classroom, leaning his back deeply against the back of his chair and supporting his head with his clasped hands.

Kal, who had tilted his chair back and was rocking it, grinned.

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

The sociable Kal jumped up from his seat.

The students in Class 5 looked at him, thinking he was about to do something again… but the students from other academies, not knowing what was going on, focused on Kal's actions.

Kal walked to the front of the stage and said,

"Hello everyone! I'm Kal Thomas! I'm 15 years old! My department is magic!"

Kal grinned.

"It's a short time, but since we're in the same class, I hope we can get along well! And speaking of which!"

Kal opened a dimensional rift and placed potion bottles on the teacher's desk.

Thump!

"These are my special fatigue recovery potions! They're popular not only with first-years but also with seniors!"

Kal's fatigue recovery potions, which had been his popular business item since the beginning of the semester, were already famous for their effectiveness.

Thanks to this, they became items frequented by first-years as well as second and third-year students.

"It'll be tough studying in a short time! So, I'm going to sell them to you at a specially discounted price. This is not an opportunity that comes every day!"

At Kal's words, the students from other academies looked bewildered.

A person who was an aspiring hero suddenly selling things?

However, the students in Class 5 looked accustomed to it.

"Kal, will you sell them to us at a discount too?"

Iliana asked with sparkling eyes, but Kal shook his head.

"No."

"Hey! What kind of discrimination is this!"

"Boo-!"

"You merchant!"

"Have you lost your initial resolve?!"

Jeers poured out from Class 5.

Kal laughed heartily, saying, "I can't hear you!"

Seeing this, the tense students from other academies relaxed and burst into laughter.

Just then.

"Your name is Kal Thomas, right?"

A male student in an Ikort uniform, sitting in the back, sneered with a dismissive smile.

"Since I'm scheduled to enter Rumern next year, I'll be your senior, so I'll use honorifics."

"That's an honor. But who are you?"

"I am Haviden Virsen."

"The Crown Prince of the Virsen Kingdom?"

Kal's expression turned surprised.

The Virsen Kingdom.

It was a powerful nation located in the northern continent, renowned for its many prestigious knight orders, a knightly superpower.

In particular, the commanders of Virsen's two major knight orders, the Winter Knights and the Snow Knights, were heroes whose names were recorded in the Hero Records.

Haviden, who served them as his master and had been recognized for his talent as a knight since childhood, was also the crown prince.

In other words, he was arguably the most influential student among the current Ikort students.

"This is truly an honor."

"Yes, consider it an honor. But regarding that."

Haviden spoke to Kal, who was scratching his cheek and giving an awkward smile.

"I came to see the Rumern seniors, not a merchant! And besides, senior, you're a commoner, right?"

"Yes. But."

"Hmph. A mere commoner making such a fuss. Are there no proper nobles or royalty in this class?"

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

Kal said with a sly smile.

At Kal's attitude, Haviden's eye twitched.

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

"I'm not being arrogant."

"Hmph. A mere commoner really is making a fuss."

Haviden, looking dumbfounded, showed a fierce smile.

Haviden's attitude was clearly different from Sirina's earlier.

He had no intention of challenging the professor's authority or violating school rules.

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

Since he aimed to enter Rumern, he knew that flaunting his status would be foolish.

However, Kal was openly disregarding him.

'With that much magic, he's managing to stay at Rumern. By the time I enter, he won't even be there. Even if he is, he's in the magic department, so we won't have any dealings.'

It would be wisest to cause as little trouble as possible, but Haviden, who had lived his entire life ruling over others, had no intention of restraining himself against Kal, who appeared easy to bully.

"Why don't you go peddle your wares in the marketplace?"

As Haviden spoke irritably, Kal shrugged and was about to put away the potion bottles when…

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

Haviden's eyes twitched.

The one who stood up was a very famous girl.

"Chelsea Lewalin."

Haviden's lips curled up.

Chelsea was of a status that he dared not trifle with.

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

However, Chelsea's homeland, the Rhodren Empire, was a vast empire that occupied most of the western continent.

Furthermore, Lewalin was a direct descendant of Lewalin, one of the two pillars supporting that empire.

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

In addition, her individual abilities were also renowned.

She was a first-year student drawing worldwide attention.

However, Haviden had no intention of backing down.

Haviden also had immense confidence in his own abilities.

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

Knowing that, Haviden harbored a competitive spirit towards Chelsea.

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

"Hmph. It's just annoying that you're being rude to my friend."

"Friend? A commoner?"

"What kind of commoner or noble is there in a friend? Yuck! How disgusting."

Chelsea stuck out her tongue and looked at Haviden with pity.

Seeing such Chelsea, Haviden's eyes twitched.

"Chelsea."

Kal's expression was one of deep emotion.

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

"Hey! Are you trying to ruin the mood?!"

Chelsea shouted and kicked Kal's butt repeatedly.

"This is absurd."

Haviden's lips curled up when…

"If you dislike it so much, why don't you test your skills?"

They looked towards the voice.

It was Leo.

Haviden's eyes twitched.

"Skills?"

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

Leo's lips curled up.

"If you're so confident, you can see for yourself. The strength of Rumern."

"Ho ho."

Haviden let out a gasp of admiration.

"That sounds good. However, I will not be facing senior Kal."

Haviden glanced at Chelsea and said,

"Instead, I want to spar with Chelsea Lewalin."

"Don't make me laugh. You don't even know your place."

"Let it be so."

"Whaaat? Leo Oppa!"

Chelsea's eyes widened as she looked at Leo.

"Chelsea, fighting! Show them Rumern's strength!"

"It's not me, it's you who has to show it! You!"

Chelsea, with narrowed eyes, punched Kal.

"Instead, my friend will face senior Kal."

Haviden glanced at another Ikort student sitting next to him.

It was a boy who was about a head and a half taller than Kal.

"Alright."

Leo nodded.

Haviden, staring intently at Leo, smiled.

"I want to see the skills of senior Leo Flob as well. How amazing the great All-Class is."

At Haviden's words, Leo burst into laughter.

"Is it not too much for me to move just to face someone like you?"

"What do you mean…"

"I have no desire to waste my time sparring with someone of your caliber."

"Kch!"

A fire lit up in Haviden's eyes.

"If I defeat Chelsea Lewalin, you're next!"

"Oh my, you have big dreams."

Chelsea stuck out her tongue and shouted fiercely.

"I'll make you regret being so arrogant and acting out of line, so be prepared!"

***

"I don't think this is a good idea, given the recent attention."

"I know. So, I'll get straight to the point."

"Speak quickly."

"Tell me the exact location of the target."

At the sinister voice, she let out a chuckle.

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

With a relieved expression, she said in a cold voice,

"It's in the innermost part of the artifact vault in the Grand Library. I'll draw a map and hand it over to you soon."

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

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