Book 1 Chapter 231
Abad, sitting by the window in the Third Dormitory’s lounge, was lost in thought.
‘What could the professors be intending?’
He glanced sideways at his peers, who would be leading the dormitory for the next year.
Durán Moira.
Eliza Hergin.
The top honor students from the Knight Department and the Summoning Department.
The problem was that they didn’t get along.
‘The Second Dormitory is like that too.’
Celia and Chelsea are the dormitory leaders.
‘Warden is generally not interested in others, so there won’t be trouble, but on the other hand, he won’t mediate the disputes between those two.’
Abad narrowed his eyes.
It was the same now.
Durán, with his arms crossed, sat with his eyes closed, unmoving, while Eliza was, as usual, tending to her fingernails.
At first glance, they both seemed indifferent to each other, but a tense standoff was underway between them.
“Shall we start by discussing dormitory member selection?”
At his words, Durán opened one eye, and Eliza glanced at Abad.
“Before that.”
Durán said.
“Even with three dormitory leaders, I think we need to choose a practical leader.”
“Oh, well said. You were going to ask me to take on that role, weren’t you? Don’t worry. As the successor of the Hergin family, I will lead the dormitory excellently.”
Eliza, crossing her legs, reached out and looked at her neatly trimmed fingernails.
Then, as if satisfied, she nodded.
Watching Eliza, Durán curled the corners of his lips.
“Do you think the position of leader suits your self-righteousness?”
“I’ll give that back to you exactly as it is.”
Seeing the two glaring fiercely at each other, Abad burst into laughter.
‘How should I resolve this? I can’t even grasp it.’
Even as he thought that, Abad had no intention of giving up his leadership position.
If the two agreed, he would take the position by force if necessary.
‘We three have nothing in common. Can we really lead the dormitory well in this state….’
Abad paused as he thought that far.
‘Commonality?’
Abad’s eyes sparkled.
He then created magic between the two, who were reaching for their swords and whips.
Whoosh-!
The sudden gust of wind made them both frown and look at Abad.
“What is it, Abad Lewallen.”
“So, you can’t give up the leader position either, can you?”
“That’s right, Eliza. I can’t just hand over the leader position. But before that, I’d like to talk about future matters.”
“Future matters?”
“Yes.”
Abad walked over slowly and sat on the sofa.
And he put on a serious expression.
“We three have one thing in common.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I agree with Durán Moira.”
Watching Durán’s cynical smile and Eliza’s prim expression, Abad grinned.
“You two alone have the common trait of having bad personalities, don’t you?”
“Are you picking a fight now?”
Durán frowned, and Eliza glared at Abad.
Abad, with a gentle smile, said,
“Just kidding. The common point for us three is this: we all want to defeat Leo Flov.”
Durán’s and Eliza’s eyes twitched.
“And yet, at the same time, we acknowledge that we can never win.”
A year ago, it was absurd that a completely unknown student took the class representative position.
Indeed, Leo seemed to lack the skills for class representative.
But at some point, he caught up to them, outran them in the blink of an eye, and started to pull ahead.
And now, he stands far in front.
“Who admits that?”
Durán said in an displeased voice.
But Eliza listened silently.
“Durán, let’s admit what needs to be admitted.”
All emotion disappeared from Abad’s eyes.
Durán clicked his tongue.
“But I have no intention of giving up.”
Eliza said decisively.
“Me neither. That’s why I said we have a common point.”
Abad laughed.
“Our goal is the same. In that case, cooperating might not be a bad idea?”
“Cooperation?”
“Yes. The dormitory competition is a foregone conclusion anyway. So.”
Abad’s eyes narrowed.
“Let’s set the goal of winning the dormitory competition.”
Durán and Eliza fell into thought, then sighed deeply a moment later.
“I don’t feel like it, as it feels like I’m falling for your words. But I’ll go along with the rhythm.”
“In that case, dormitory members will be important first.”
As their interests aligned, the three quickly reached a consensus.
“Haul from the Knight Department is an excellent fellow. He’s essential.”
“Jureden from the Summoning Department is also necessary.”
“I don’t think just recruiting students with good grades is the best approach. We need to match the dormitory atmosphere, right? Our goal is to defeat Leo Flov. It would be best to recruit students who can aim for that goal.”
“Do you have any students in mind?”
To Eliza’s question, Abad chuckled and took out a deck of cards.
They were cards with the names and photos of the dormitory students.
“When did you prepare this?”
“Since my first year. I made them to scout for talented individuals worth recruiting for my family.”
Grinning, Abad drew one card.
“The student we should recruit as priority is this fellow.”
Eliza’s eyes twitched.
“Cal Thomas? He’s the lowest-ranked student in the Magic Department! Why is he the top recruitment priority?”
“You know Cal’s usefulness, don’t you?”
“Hmph. Usefulness and excellence are different. We have to win against Leo Flov’s dormitory. Are you perhaps planning to use his friendship with Leo Flov to make him a spy?”
“Of course not.”
Abad chuckled.
“Although Cal’s grades are the lowest, he has the distinct characteristic of aiming to be a supporter. He’s a student with a clear advantage over others. Furthermore, he’s excellent outside of academics. Crucially, he’s a student with flexible thinking enough to play his role regardless of the dormitory atmosphere, no matter which dormitory he joins.”
“Hmm!”
“Durán, your opinion?”
“He’s useful, though.”
To their opinions, Eliza put on a sullen expression.
“Alright. Then let’s accept Cal Thomas into our dormitory. But will Cal Thomas want to come?”
“We’ll have to see.”
***
“Ha, ha, ha. Aren’t you overestimating me too much?”
“Don’t be discouraged. We’re transferring you because we need you.”
Abad said with a grin.
Then, standing before Leo and Chloe, he said,
“Our dormitory’s goal is to defeat the First Dormitory. To that end, the dormitory leaders have also agreed.”
In front of the cafeteria, Abad spread his arms and told his peers.
“There will be no conflict among the dormitory leaders that you worry about.”
Abad, speaking confidently, returned to Durán and Eliza with a grin.
At his words, the students began to murmur.
“I’m worried about Durán and Eliza’s relationship, but.”
“If the goal is indeed to beat Leo, it seems those two would work together……”
“That would be reassuring.”
The students began to show interest in the Third Dormitory.
“Isn’t it also an advantage that I can be in the dormitory with Eliza?”
“Are you a fan club member of Eliza? What’s so good about that haughty queen?”
“Sh, shut up! That’s what makes her cool!”
“At least Abad and Durán are in the same space, right?”
“Just that alone is a feast for the eyes.”
There were even students who revealed their personal desires.
“But directly talking to those three is a bit intimidating.”
“Should we ask Cal?”
“Ah, Cal is also in the Third Dormitory.”
“Yes. Let’s just ask Cal comfortably.”
Interest in the Third Dormitory surged.
Seeing the students approaching him, Cal scratched his head.
‘Did you even think of this effect?’
Seeing that, Leo let out a chuckle.
“You got hit hard, didn’t you?”
Not only was Cal snatched away, but after being declared war upon, he was also used as propaganda material.
“That’s right.”
Chloe tucked her grimoire under her arm.
She seemed indifferent, but her eyes were ignited with a fighting spirit.
Meanwhile, Warden, who was watching, said,
“Celia Jerdinger, Chelsea Lewallen.”
“Why are you calling us? Warden.”
“How long are you going to let petty personal feelings get in the way?”
“What?”
“They’ve decided on their path.”
Warden, who had been watching the situation as if uninterested until now, pointed to the Third Dormitory with an expressionless face.
“If we continue like this, all the good students will be taken, and we’ll have to build the dormitory with the riff-raff. Do you think we can win against them with such members?”
Celia brushed her hair back.
“I understand what you’re saying, Warden. The Third Dormitory has decided to build its dormitory with the goal of defeating Leo. Then we must also have a goal.”
At her words, Chelsea crossed her arms.
“I don’t particularly want to make beating Leo brother my goal.”
“Of course. Chelsea Lewallen. You’ve never aimed for the top throughout your first year.”
“Ugh.”
Chelsea glared at Warden with an angry face.
But she couldn’t retort.
To aim for the top in the Magic Department, there was her blood relative, Abad.
To aim for the top in the class, there was Leo.
Celia had a competitive spirit, but it was closer to the resentment she felt as a member of her family.
“Celia Jerdinger. What kind of dormitory do you want to create?”
“I want to create a dormitory primarily focused on the Knight Department.”
“No, I want to create a dormitory primarily focused on mages.”
“Really? Then our dormitory’s direction is decided.”
“What?”
Celia brushed her hair back.
“We three also have one thing in common.”
At Celia’s words, Warden looked amused.
“What is it?”
To that question, Celia said,
“I believe swordsmanship is superior to magic and summoning.”
Celia pointed at Chelsea.
“She believes magic is superior to swordsmanship and summoning, and you, Warden, believe summoning is the strongest ability. Am I wrong?”
Warden, although not his major, is taking courses in the Knight Department and Magic Department as a minor.
Of course, he has no talent for Aura or Mana.
But he uses those abilities to enhance his spirit summoning.
In other words, martial arts and magic were tools for Warden to strengthen his spirit summoning.
This basically implies a mindset that spirit summoning is superior to those two abilities.
At Celia’s words, Warden curled the corners of his lips.
“Indeed. Are you saying we should determine the best department within the dormitory?”
“That’s right. I’m sure there are students who agree with our opinion.”
Celia smiled belligerently.
“We can’t be losing to that greasy butterball or Leo.”
“Why is my brother butter!”
Chelsea flared up and tried to pounce, but Warden grabbed Chelsea by the scruff of her neck with his large hand.
With her feet off the ground, Chelsea yelled at Warden with a flushed face,
“What are you doing! Let go!”
“Fight when other students aren’t watching. For now, show a semblance of cooperation.”
“Kch-!”
Chelsea pouted her lips but didn’t resist.
Leo, watching the scene, chuckled.
‘They’ve also decided on their direction faster than I expected.’
Leo’s eyes sparkled.
‘My second year is going to be interesting.’
***
“Already? They were called the Golden Generation, so they’re definitely talented.”
Riina, who received the report in the principal’s office, said with an amused expression.
“I thought it would be a bit more difficult.”
“The second-year students this year are more capable than you think.”
“Halind, your words make me look forward to it.”
Riina put down the document.
“By the way, I am concerned. The number of new students this year is insufficient. It’s only around 300, isn’t it?”
An auditor from the board of directors showed a displeased expression.
It was someone sent by the board of directors, distrustful of the new principal of Lumern, who had no achievements or reputation.
‘If things go wrong, they might get rid of me? It doesn’t seem like the chairman’s will.’
Riina inwardly curled the corners of her lips.
“You don’t have to worry about that. We’ve already conducted additional exams.”
“What?”
It was when the other board auditors were flustered.
Someone entered the principal’s office.
“Welcome, Alby. How were the exams?”
By Riina’s order, Alby had gathered the applicants who had barely passed the previous entrance exam and conducted additional tests.
Riina, judging that unnecessary showy events were not needed for the additional exams, ensured they didn’t become a global issue.
“About 100 more people passed.”
“Now there’s no need to worry, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
The board auditor replied reluctantly.
After he left, Alby opened his mouth.
“Ms. Riina.”
“It’s Principal now. Professor Alby.”
“Principal.”
“Yes?”
“Some of the new students you recommended seem strange.”
“You noticed?”
“Did Professors Halind and Sedjen also know?”
“They agreed.”
“I know they are excellent.”
Alby narrowed his eyes.
“But I believe the three of you know best that ‘Shadow Candidates’ fundamentally cannot mix with ‘Hero Candidates’?”
“Giving ‘Shadow Candidates’ a chance to become heroes.”
Riina said, resting her chin on her hand.
“This was the condition for me accepting the principal’s position.”