Book 1 Chapter 22

【22】21

The Tower of Heroes, located in the center of Rumeln.

This is a place for the faculty, rather than the great students, of Rumeln.

And at the top of the Tower of Heroes is the principal's office.

Principal Kallian, who had been sitting at his desk with a relaxed expression, turned his head toward the window.

Hwa-reureu-reuk-!

A woman with crimson hair appeared with a burst of flames.

"Welcome, Pirina."

Kallian, who had been greeting Pirina with a gentle smile, suddenly changed his expression.

"Did the intruder make a move?"

Five years ago, there was an intrusion incident within Rumeln.

No casualties were reported, so it wasn't publicly known, and the culprit was never caught.

However, Rumeln was not just an educational institution; it was where Hero Records were kept.

Not only did someone manage to breach Rumeln's security network, but they also caused an incident within Rumeln and remained uncaptured.

It was clear that if this incident became known to the world, it would cause immense chaos, so it was hushed up.

But they never stopped looking for the culprit.

So, Kallian asked Ellen to invite Pirina to Rumeln.

Because there was no mythical beast better suited than a Phoenix to monitor the vast expanse of Rumeln.

"It's not that, but I have good news."

"Good news?"

"This time, a contractor of the Phoenix has been born among Rumeln's students."

"Is that true?"

Kallian asked, surprised.

"Did they contract with you? Or with another Phoenix?"

"They contracted with my child, who was just born."

"If it's your child, weren't they supposed to contract with the heir of the Rundia family?"

"That was the plan, but somehow it turned out this way."

"So, it was possible to form a contract because it was a young Phoenix… But to form a contract as a student! Besides Ulta, was there another talent like that among the fifth-year students?"

Kallian naturally assumed that the contractor was born from the highest grade.

He was surprised, as all fifth-year Summoning Department students, except for Ulta, the Pegasus contractor, specialized in elemental magic.

"Not a fifth-year."

"Oh? A fourth-year, then? Indeed! The top student in fourth-year Mythical Beast Summoning is exceptionally talented."

"Not a fourth-year either."

Pirina shook her head.

Principal Kallian's face subtly changed.

"Are you saying… a third-year?"

"No."

"…"

"Second-year?"

Seeing Pirina smile without answering, Kallian let out a hollow laugh.

"Are you saying a contractor has been born among the first-year students?"

"That's right."

"Who is it?"

"Leo Plob."

"Hahahaha. Leo Plob?"

He was the student that Alby, known for being picky, had recommended as a hero candidate.

So, despite the opposition from other professors, this student, who had been chosen as the class representative, unexpectedly became a Phoenix contractor.

'Didn't that student major in knighthood?'

Principal Kallian stroked his beard in surprise.

'I'll have to meet him soon.'

***

"Thank you for your hard work!"

After the summoning class ended, the first-year students, giving a vigorous greeting, rushed out of the training ground.

Before they knew it, it was late evening.

Being in their growth spurt and having just taken a taming exam, the students' stomachs were crying out for food.

The first-year students all rushed to the student cafeteria.

"Young Master Leo. Would you like to have dinner together if you don't mind?"

"Sure."

Leo was about to leave the classroom with Chen Xia.

"Student Leo."

"Yes."

"The professor is looking for you."

Carlo approached and said.

"It seems I'll have to eat dinner separately then."

"It can't be helped. See you in the next class then, Young Master Leo."

Chen Xia left the classroom first.

Leo followed Carlo to the professor's office.

Upon arriving at the professor's office, Carlo knocked, and a short 'Come in' was heard from inside.

"Go on in."

After greeting Carlo, Leo entered the room.

Unlike her free-spirited personality, Professor Yura's office was neatly organized.

Professor Yura, sitting at her desk, gestured to the seat opposite her.

"Sit."

As Leo sat down, Professor Yura spoke as if there was no time to wait.

"I'll ask you directly, Student Leo."

"Yes."

"The mythical beast you contracted with earlier, it was a Phoenix, wasn't it?"

'As expected, she knew.'

"Yes."

Professor Yura was agitated by Leo's answer.

Although she had expected it, she couldn't help but be surprised to hear the confirmation from Leo himself.

"Could you show it to me once?"

Seeing Professor Yura ask with a trembling voice, Leo reached into his school uniform pocket.

Fiora was still with Leo, as Pirina had said she would come to pick her up tonight.

He placed Fiora on the desk.

"I can't believe I'd see a young Phoenix in my lifetime!"

Adult Phoenixes were rare to see, but seeing a baby Phoenix, which was even rarer, even a professor at Rumeln couldn't help but be excited.

"Haa! What a majestic sight!"

Majestic or not, Fiora was nodding off like a sick chick.

'Is her eyesight bad?'

"What's its name?"

"Fiora."

"How on earth did you find it? I didn't even know there was a Phoenix in the Forest of Mythical Beasts."

A professor's status at Rumeln is by no means low.

All of them were highly skilled in their fields and also commanders with considerable authority in emergencies.

Even to such professors, Pirina's existence was a secret.

Leo, who had heard that fact from Pirina, had prepared an excuse.

"While wandering through the forest, I found an egg. I don't know why it was there, but it was a Phoenix egg."

It was a flimsy answer to simply believe.

But there was no way to explain the Phoenix contract other than by chance.

Moreover, there was no way to verify Leo's words.

"Even so, it wouldn't have been easy to recognize it as a Phoenix egg, would it?"

Despite its fame, very little is known about the Phoenix, a mythical beast.

It's not for nothing that related information is traded at high prices.

"My mother's side of the family is related to Phoenixes, so I've read ancient books about them."

"Where is your mother's family from?"

"Zerdinger."

Professor Yura was surprised.

'Indeed… if it's Zerdinger, it makes sense. The source of the aura flames they use is the power of the Phoenix.'

If he only had the talent of a summoner, there would be no more perfect condition for him to be a Phoenix contractor.

'Still, for a mere fifteen-year-old punk to make a contract with a Phoenix.'

Professor Yura's eyes sparkled.

Some questions remained, but what was important now was Leo's talent, who, as a student, had contracted with a Phoenix just one day after admission.

"I understand. Thank you for your time. You may go now."

Professor Yura escorted Leo to the entrance of her office.

And before opening the door, she said seriously.

"Student Leo."

"Yes."

"It would be best to keep the fact that you contracted with a Phoenix a secret for now. It will cause a commotion if it becomes known."

"Understood."

"Good. Then have a delicious dinner and I'll see you in the next class."

Tap-tap- Professor Yura patted Leo's shoulder and closed the door.

Then she went back to her seat and pondered.

'How on earth should I teach this rough gem?'

Professor Yura was filled with dreams.

A summoner with unprecedented talent as her student!

She wanted to raise him into the best summoner by any means necessary.

'Should I make him skip a grade? It's a dilemma to have a talented student!'

Recalling her student who would one day make a name for himself as a great summoner, Yura fell into happy contemplation.

She was willing to give Leo private lessons if he wanted.

Professor Yura had no doubt that Leo would choose summoning as his main major.

Isn't it obvious? Is it even plausible to say that someone with such talent would go into another department?

'Hehe, for the next five years, the best major will be our Summoning Department!'

Professor Yura didn't know.

That Leo didn't have such a thing as a main major.

***

The next morning.

Leo headed to the magic building with Kal to attend his magic class.

"Oh! Chloe!"

Kal spotted Chloe walking ahead, a magic textbook tucked under her arm, and waved.

"Hi, Leo, Kal. Haaam."

"Why are you yawning so early in the morning?"

"I was reading a magic book late last night."

"Really? Then how about this?"

Kal grinned and pulled out a small bottle from his pocket.

"Kal's Merchant Guild's Fatigue Recovery Potion! Only 5 shillings."

"It's nothing weird, is it?"

"The label here has all the ingredients and a certification mark."

"Hmm."

Chloe checked the label, nodded, and bought the fatigue recovery potion.

As she drank it, she glanced at Leo.

"You're really taking a magic class?"

"I said I was."

"This guy even took a summoning class yesterday, you know?"

At Kal's words, Chloe looked at Leo with curiosity.

"What class did you take yesterday?"

"I aspire to be a pure mage, so I had no classes yesterday. So I studied at the library."

"Wow, you're a real top student."

The three arrived at the magic building, chatting casually.

Today's class venue, the [Grand Lecture Hall], was a large circular lecture hall that could accommodate up to 500 people.

Kal grinned when he saw the lecture hall.

"The best seat, the very back, is still available! What are you guys doing? We have to go quickly!"

"What are you talking about, the best seat is the very front."

"It seems you and I are on different paths."

Kal was about to cut ties with Chloe without hesitation.

But Chloe was faster, grabbing Kal's ear.

"Ow, ow, ow?!"

"You're trying to doze off in the back, aren't you? A magic student should listen diligently in class."

"Hey, hey! Let go of this and let's talk? Huh! Hey!"

Chloe stubbornly made Kal sit in the very front row of the classroom.

"If I do this, I'll get caught dozing off by the professor!"

Chloe laughed at the screaming Kal.

"Conversely, if you study hard, the professor will look favorably upon you."

Kal glared with resentful eyes, but Chloe ignored it and just opened her textbook.

Leo, who had also ended up sitting in front, chuckled, suppressing his laughter.

Just then, a man walked onto the stage of the lecture hall.

Stomp- Stomp- Stomp-

He was dressed in a neat suit and had pomade-styled hair, a man who suited the description of handsome.

As some female students gasped, he stood in the center of the stage and smiled gently.

"Welcome, first-year students. My name is Ren Hors. I will be your professor for Magic Theory for the next year."

Applause erupted at Ren's introduction.

"Are there any students with questions before class?"

A barrage of questions poured in from the female students.

"Professor! Do you have a girlfriend?"

"How old are you?"

"What's your ideal type?"

Useless questions unrelated to the class poured in.

Nevertheless, Professor Ren kindly smiled and answered all of them.

"A handsome professor, huh. The female students must be absolutely smitten. But Ren Hors? I've never heard that name before. Chloe, do you know him?"

Kal, with a pen on his upper lip and his hands clasped behind his head, asked, and Chloe shook her head.

"I haven't heard of him either."

After the personal questions ended, Professor Ren said.

"Today, we will be studying the introduction to Magic Theory. Before that!"

Clack-!

Professor Ren snapped his fingers.

Pa-ra-ra-ra-rak-!

Papers began to flutter throughout the entire lecture hall.

The bundles of paper accurately reached the students' desks.

"Before we begin the lesson, we will have a simple Magic Theory test."

"Whaaaat?"

"A test on the first day~ Professor, that's too much~"

Complaints poured in from everywhere.

Some female students whined adorably.

"By the way, students who don't meet the passing score will not be able to take any magic major classes in the future."

"…"

The lighthearted atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Amidst that, one student cautiously raised a hand.

"P-professor. What if a magic department student fails the test?"

"Well, of course."

Professor Ren answered casually, as if asking why such a question was necessary.

"They will be expelled."