Book 1 Chapter 16
【16】15
In the middle of the vast Lumen Academy, there was a huge parade ground called Erech.
It is where major school events are held, typically orientation ceremonies and graduation ceremonies.
And all the students of Lumen were gathered here in Erech.
“You’re here?”
“As expected, you’re soaked, aren’t you?”
“Hahahaha! Look! Didn’t I say there wouldn’t be many dry kids?”
Some ill-tempered senior students booed.
A few proud freshmen trembled with shame, but no one lashed out.
In the midst of this, Artian, who had led the freshmen into the center of the Erech parade ground, spoke.
“Please line up by region. And the top-ranked students, please come forward as representatives.”
At his words, the students formed five lines and arranged themselves in order.
Naturally, there were noticeably fewer students from the Western Region.
The professors watching from the stage clicked their tongues.
“Should I say, as expected of Professor Alby? The number of students from the Western Region is simply too low.”
A teacher spoke to Alby, who sat with an expressionless face, as if scolding him.
But Alby didn't bat an eye.
Leo stood at the very back.
“Oh! Leo oppa! Hello!”
Just then, Chelsea Lewallin, who had teamed up with him during the entrance exam, approached with a bright smile.
“It was so hectic, I’m only seeing you now!”
Leo chuckled, looking at Chelsea, who was sparkling and talking to him in a friendly manner.
“Quick, get in line first.”
“Okay!”
Chelsea, standing next to Leo, chattered away.
“Back then, I was so moved watching Leo oppa fight that I’m thinking of taking classes in the Knight Department as a minor.”
“Hmm? Now that you mention it, you said your goal was to be a Battle Mage, right?”
“Yes!”
At her quick reply, Leo looked at Chelsea for a moment, then spoke.
“Then you should focus more on magic training first, shouldn’t you?”
“Huh? I have enough magic, though? Why should I focus more on magic training?”
Just as Leo was about to say something, seeing Chelsea ask with a slightly flustered expression.
“The orientation ceremony will now begin. First, we will hear from the principal.”
At the words of the presiding professor on the stage, Chelsea fell silent.
With that, an old man appeared in the center of the stage.
The freshmen showed tense expressions.
No one here didn't know that old man.
The one praised as the greatest among current human heroes.
Sword Saint, Kalian Vaidean.
“You’ve worked hard to get here, my fledgling comrades.”
Kalian said, displaying a spirit unlike that of an old man.
“I won’t speak at length. I’ll tell you about the path you must walk!”
Bang-!
Kalian struck the stage with his fist.
“If you dream of being heroes, always put yourselves on the line! And overcome your limits! Those who don’t!”
The freshmen gasped at the Sword Saint’s roar.
“You are not needed in Lumen.”
With those words, he stepped down from the stage without hesitation.
A moment of silence passed.
And…
“Woooooah!”
A thunderous roar erupted from the freshmen.
The short speech, hardly deserving the name 'speech,' had the power to ignite the freshmen.
The Sword Saint, who had turned around, made a V-sign with his fingers at the professors, maintaining a stern expression.
At that sight, several professors clutched their heads.
‘Principal-niiiiim!’
‘If he had kept up his dignified demeanor, he would have been truly cool!’
‘Sniff, sniff, the longer I teach at Lumen, the more my illusion of the Sword Saint shatters.’
The professors knew, even if they didn't like it.
That the Sword Saint, the greatest hero everyone admired, was actually a hopelessly frivolous old man.
The presiding professor also clutched his head and said.
“Now, we will have a speech from the freshman representative.”
At his words, everyone in the Erech parade ground focused on the presiding teacher’s words.
Freshman representative.
It signifies the absolute best among Lumen's freshmen, a group of geniuses.
Literally, a powerful hero candidate among hundreds of aspiring heroes!
Even the top-ranked students at the very front showed tense expressions.
With everyone's attention on him, the presiding professor opened his mouth.
“Freshman representative, Leo Plov.”
“Leo Plov?”
“Who’s that?”
“The freshman representative isn’t the top-ranked student?”
The freshmen looked around and murmured.
The six top-ranked students sitting at the very front also showed bewildered expressions.
Even the professors who didn't know who the freshman representative was showed surprised reactions.
Just then, the presiding professor spoke.
“Student Leo Plov. Please come up to the stage.”
At those words, Leo stood up from his seat.
Chelsea’s eyes widened, and she looked up at Leo.
Karl, sitting in another row over there, gaped.
It was very unusual for an ordinary student, not a top-ranked one, to become the representative.
Even the senior students showed bewildered reactions.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Leo.
‘I’m the freshman representative?’
Leo also felt puzzled.
Although he had certainly performed remarkably in the entrance exam, he thought Celia and Avad would have higher scores.
The two of them had been the most active in the actual exam, which is why they shared the top rank.
Feeling puzzled, Leo, who ascended the stage, made eye contact with Alby, who had been the proctor for the Western exam.
The once expressionless Alby showed a smile.
It seemed to be the proctor’s recommendation.
Leo put aside his doubts and stood on the stage.
There was a prepared speech on the stage.
“Esteemed professors, and respected seniors. Thank you for welcoming us, the freshmen, in this way. We freshmen, from now on, as proud members of Lumen…”
Leo read through the speech without any signs of nervousness.
Leo was met with gazes filled with various emotions.
Questions and curiosity about the fact that an ordinary student, not a top-ranked one, became the representative.
Envy and jealousy for occupying such an honorable position.
“…Freshman representative, Leo Plov.”
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap-!
After the speech, applause erupted.
“Very good, student Leo. Now, as the freshman representative, please share a word of your aspirations.”
The presiding professor said with a playful smile.
Aspirations as the freshman representative.
This was a kind of tradition at Lumen's orientation ceremony.
It was to give the opportunity to speak a word to everyone in the school, having won the freshman representative position through numerous competitions.
But on the other hand, there was also the intention to provoke the other first-year students.
‘Is this a provocation aimed at the kids who could have easily been in this position?’
Leo chuckled.
Since they had always been the best, there must be many students who coveted this position.
Leo turned his body and looked down at all the freshmen.
“I am the freshman representative, Leo Plov.”
At Leo’s polite greeting, the presiding professor showed a regretful expression.
‘This year’s freshman representative is a quiet student. Well, an honor student’s aspirations aren’t bad either.’
In truth, even a student with a temper finds it difficult to speak carelessly when placed in this position.
‘This year’s orientation ceremony will be uneventful…’
“If you covet this position, then take it.”
The presiding professor’s eyes widened.
The other freshmen gaped.
Leo gave a smile and then descended from the stage.
Leo accurately grasped and followed the school’s intention.
‘But even so, that’s too much!’
The presiding teacher screamed inwardly.
Even among the senior students, snorts of laughter broke out.
“This orientation ceremony is legendary, isn’t it?”
“A very impudent junior has arrived.”
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Leo.
Despite this, Leo descended from the stage without batting an eye.
As he returned to his seat, he made eye contact with Celia.
Celia, who had been staring intently at Leo, let out a small snort and raised her chin.
Avad, sitting next to her, smiled faintly at Leo.
“Wow! Wow! Leo oppa was the representative?”
As he returned to his seat, Chelsea fussed and spoke softly.
“Aren’t you disappointed Avad wasn’t chosen?”
“It’s a shame my brother wasn’t chosen, but my brother and I saw Leo oppa fight in person, didn’t we?”
Hmm-hmm-! Chelsea said, crossing her arms and nodding.
“He didn’t say it, but my brother must acknowledge Leo oppa too.”
“Is that so?”
Leo looked at the back of Avad’s head, who was sitting in the front row.
After a short while, time passed, and the orientation ceremony concluded.
***
After the orientation ceremony, the freshmen were immediately escorted to the dormitories.
Naturally, the dormitories were separated by gender.
Each dormitory, resembling a splendid mansion, stood side by side.
In the center was a garden, and a training ground was located on the surrounding premises.
In the gathering of freshmen, one of the dormitory managers spoke.
“Dormitory assignments are one person per room. And there is a curfew. In this case, an overnight stay is permitted if there is a special reason. However.”
The dormitory manager sighed briefly.
“Entering a dormitory of the opposite sex without permission is absolutely forbidden.”
The dormitory manager’s face turned stern.
“I know you are at an age where you are interested in the opposite sex. But please respect the boundaries.”
“Yes~”
The freshmen replied cheerfully.
The dormitory manager gave a wry smile at their answer.
Even with such answers, there are always spirited teenagers who violate this school rule at least once a year.
‘Of course, they never do it again after that.’
“Alright, then everyone, find your luggage, unpack in your assigned dormitory rooms, and reassemble here in one hour.”
The dormitory manager pointed to the luggage that had been delivered during the orientation ceremony and spoke.
The freshmen chattered among themselves with their friends, looking for their bags.
And they checked their assigned dormitory rooms.
“Oh! Leo! You and I are in adjacent rooms!”
“Really? That’s good.”
Karl said in a bright voice, and Leo smiled.
“By the way, I was surprised, I didn’t expect you to be the student representative!”
“I know, I didn’t know either.”
“Your performance in the exam must have been amazing?”
“It seems the examiner had a good impression of me.”
Leo and Karl took their luggage and went up to the second floor, where they were assigned.
The gazes of other freshmen were fixed on them.
“Is that guy the freshman representative?”
“Why did that guy become the representative, surpassing the top-ranked students? Does he have connections or something?”
“Do you think you can be a freshman representative just because you have connections?”
‘I’ve become the center of attention on the very first day.’
After changing clothes in their rooms and reassembling, they had a hectic time.
First, class assignments.
Lumen primarily offers major-focused classes, but there are also common classes.
For those classes, students attend with their classmates.
For first-year students, there are ten classes, from Class 1 to Class 10.
Among them, Leo was assigned to Class 5 with Chelsea and Karl.
Afterwards, they were guided through the facilities within Lumen Academy.
As one of only four hero academies in the world, Lumen’s academy grounds were vast.
It took half a day just to tour the important facilities.
After finishing the tour and returning to the dormitories, the dorm supervisor was waiting for them.
“Welcome. I am Obelio, the first-year dormitory supervisor. You’ve had a tough day. Starting tomorrow, a week of provisional classes will begin.”
During the provisional class period, students could freely take any classes they wished.
Even those aspiring to be knights could take classes in magic or summoning.
In the process, students sometimes discovered talents they hadn’t known they possessed.
“Classes start right away tomorrow, so don’t get too excited and go to bed early today.”
When Professor Obelio commanded dismissal, the students each headed to their dormitory rooms.
“Phew~ It was really a hectic day!”
Karl said, stretching as if tired.
“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow! Anyway, Leo! Good night!”
“Okay, good night.”
After greeting each other, they entered their respective dormitory rooms.
Leo, who entered his room, changed into pajamas and got into bed.
Feeling the comfort of the bed, he drifted off to sleep.
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