Book 1 Chapter 250

"Since we came all this way, I wanted to do some sightseeing."

Leo muttered as he walked through the exotic streetscape.

"It's not good to miss classes for a long time at the beginning of the semester."

"How about visiting our country again during this summer vacation? I'll guide you to the tourist attractions."

"If nothing unusual happens, it wouldn't be bad to visit."

Leo said with a chuckle at Chen Xia's words.

Fritz, following the two, adjusted his glasses.

"Indeed, this exotic landscape is worth appreciating. I should visit again if I have the chance…"

"Don't come again. Shoo- shoo-"

Jane said, waving her hands dismissively at Fritz's muttering.

"Jane."

"Yes, yes!"

"You should get along well with your classmates."

"This guy is not a friend…!"

"Huh?"

"…I'll get along well…"

Jane, who had been defensive, shrank back at Chen Xia's gentle smile.

Fritz smiled smugly at Jane's reaction.

Jane's eyes flared up at Fritz's smile.

'When we get back, I'll beat him to a pulp!'

She clenched her fist and trembled.

Meanwhile, people's gazes were fixed on Leo's group.

Since all four were wearing Lumern's school uniforms, they couldn't help but stand out.

"By the way, which class was I assigned to?"

"Ah, you wouldn't know."

Having been absent from school, Chen Xia was not well-informed about the current situation of the second year.

"The second year doesn't have classes anymore."

"What?"

"The second year is divided into three dormitories. The dormitories compete with each other."

Chen Xia's eyes sparkled at Leo's words.

"That sounds fun."

"You, me, and Chloe are the dorm leaders."

"I'm in the same dormitory as Leo?"

Chen Xia, who had been laughing happily, stopped.

Upon hearing that she, Chloe, and Leo were the leaders of the same dormitory, she had a realization.

"What about the other dorm leaders?"

"Celia, Chelsea, and Warden are in the same dormitory, and Abad, Eliza, and Duran are together."

"…Are those dormitories okay?"

At first glance, the combinations made one wonder if it would be alright.

Leo chuckled at Chen Xia's genuinely worried question.

"Surprisingly, they seem to get along well."

"I see."

Chen Xia nodded.

Meanwhile, it was the Lumern warp gate's turn to activate.

As the four stepped onto the warp gate, it activated.

***

Lumern Principal's Office.

Riina was attending to her duties at her desk.

"Unexpected."

Sedgen exclaimed as he watched Riina.

"What is?"

"I recommended you as Lumern's principal, but I honestly didn't expect you to be this diligent and devoted to your principal duties."

"You bastard! You were thinking that!"

Riina's eyes flashed as she grabbed a bottle of alcohol from the side of her desk and threw it at Sedgen.

*Thump-*

Sedgen easily caught the bottle and placed it on the guest table.

"By the way, I'm worried."

"Chen Xia?"

"Yes. Student Xia not only has the top skills among the second-years but is also an elegant student with the leadership to embrace her classmates."

Sedgen sighed.

"Talented leaders, the other ones have that too."

"That's true, but they can still be considered inexperienced."

"Hmm. So, arranging the dorm leaders like that was to foster their leadership through competition?"

"That's right."

Sedgen had the most influence in selecting the dorm leaders.

"If Chloe, Xia, and Leo Flov were placed separately, it would have been an ideal setup. But it could also hinder the growth potential of other students."

Although not revealed to the students and not reflected in their evaluation scores, there was an item where the second-years' class presidents from their first year were graded.

Leo took first place, and Chloe and Chen Xia tied for second place.

Among the ten classes, Class 1 was considered the most challenging to lead.

Class 1 happened to be where the students with the highest grades were concentrated.

Furthermore, there were Celia and Duran, who came from heroic families and had strong skills and pride.

Students who could have been class presidents anywhere.

Class 1 could have collapsed due to the friction between Celia and Duran if handled incorrectly.

However, Chloe perfectly played the role of mediator among them.

As a result, she was naturally recognized as the leader of Class 1.

Chen Xia was no less capable.

If Class 1 was the most challenging, then Class 10 was the most difficult.

Class 10 had many students with rough temperaments and short tempers.

Students who would resort to physical violence at the slightest provocation.

A class full of troublemakers.

Chen Xia brought order to the wild Class 10 in just one week.

And the average class grade was third place.

Naturally, it had the highest advancement rate to the second year, excluding Class 1 and Class 5.

All of that was possible because Chen Xia was there.

"Is it what they call 'older sister' leadership… something like that?"

"Something like that."

Although she looked young, Chen Xia was the eldest among the first-years and had an adult-like, mature personality.

As a result, even students with foul tempers were often unable to act out in front of Chen Xia.

In fact, some students from Class 10 called Chen Xia their "big sister."

"In Knightly Arts and Summoning classes, she also mediated between Celia and Duran, and Warden and Eliza."

Sedgen chuckled.

"Indeed. Even among first-years, if one possesses that level of leadership, they will naturally lead others."

Celia, Chelsea, Warden, Abad, Eliza, and Duran.

These six students were treated exceptionally at Lumern.

Sedgen wanted to allow these six to actively exercise their leadership.

"Although they are rivals, when placed together, they can create synergy."

"I see. But you're hesitant to mention Leo Flov?"

Riina tilted her head.

Sedgen's face contorted grotesquely.

"Leo Flov… Student Leo is on another level."

He raised Class 5, which was the last-place class, to a respectable second place in the final first-year rankings.

Moreover, not a single student dropped out.

Most people believed that Halind's strict educational policy was the reason, but Leo's influence was far greater.

"I know he's on another level, but what exactly makes him different?"

"Yes. Student Leo stimulates those around him."

"Stimulates?"

Sedgen narrowed his eyes.

"He's always in front of others. One step at a time. Just when you think you've caught up, another step forward."

He sighed deeply.

"From the perspective of those chasing him, it's not strange to feel despair at never being able to close the gap."

"Certainly."

"However, Student Leo's overwhelming strength inspires admiration in other students."

"Admiration?"

"Yes. That back encourages students while also comforting them. It's like he's saying, 'You can do it too.'"

"Why is that?"

"It's probably because he always challenges the seemingly impossible."

"Ho."

Riina exclaimed.

"Student Leo always challenges his limits. And, as if it were natural, he achieves beyond those limits."

"Indeed."

Riina nodded.

It was natural for people to admire someone like that.

It was a great blessing to witness such a person in the same generation.

"But why do they dislike Leo?"

"When I teach, how annoying is he! He's so elegant, which makes him even more annoying!"

Sedgen lamented.

*Knock-knock-*

"Come in."

The principal's office door opened, and a professor entered.

"What is it?"

"Professor, Student Leo from the second year, and students Fritz and Jane from the first year who went to assist him, have returned."

"Already?"

Riina's eyes widened in surprise at the news that they had completed their mission in just one day.

"So? What about Chen Xia?"

"Student Chen Xia has also returned."

"You actually managed to persuade that stiff-necked person."

Riina let out a dry laugh.

Upon hearing the news, Sedgen folded his arms.

He then made a sour face and muttered.

"As expected, so elegant."

***

"Xia! Welcome back! I was so worried!"

Chloe said with a bright expression, holding Chen Xia's hand tightly as she returned to the dormitory.

Not just Chloe.

The entire student body came out to the dormitory lounge to welcome Chen Xia back.

"I was surprised when I suddenly heard you received a mission."

Iliana exclaimed with a "Ho- ho-"

"What kind of mission was it? And you took first-years with you?"

"It's a secret related to Chen Xia's family circumstances."

"Hmph! Don't be stingy, tell me!"

Despite Iliana's whining, Leo remained silent on the sofa.

Seeing Leo's reaction, Iliana, who had a grumpy expression, approached Chen Xia.

"Xia! Why did you come back so late after the vacation?"

Everyone looked at Iliana.

Knowing it was a matter of family circumstances, most people wouldn't ask.

At the same time, everyone was curious, so they paid attention to Chen Xia's words.

Chen Xia smiled faintly at Iliana's question.

"My family told me to drop out of Lumern."

"Whattttt?"

"What nonsense is that!"

Everyone looked shocked at the unexpected words.

"That was the condition. If I didn't become the top student of the year, I had to drop out."

At those words, everyone looked back and forth between Leo and Chen Xia.

Everyone knew Chen Xia's skills.

If there was one student she couldn't beat in terms of skill, it was Leo.

"Even so! How difficult is it to get into Lumern, and you have to drop out if you're not the best? What kind of family tells their eldest sister to drop out!"

A large male student in the 10th class, a spirit knight, got angry.

"It's the Royal Family of Shan."

"Even the Royal Family of Shan wouldn't say such nonsense… Huh?"

"The, the Royal Family of Shan?"

Everyone wore expressions of shock.

Chen Xia smiled faintly and nodded.

Chloe asked urgently, surprised.

"Xia… you're royalty from Shan?"

"Yes. For now, I am the heir of Shan."

Everyone's jaws dropped, as they couldn't have imagined it.

They thought she might be joking.

Everyone looked at Leo.

Leo, under the gaze of his dorm mates, nodded listlessly.

"Wow… she was a shadow."

"If you're a Lumern student, you're a candidate for hero."

"Shh. Don't say things like shadow or hero."

Confusion arose among the students.

It was understandable.

For thousands of years, the Royal Family of Shan had been in the shadows.

It was understandable that the next emperor of Shan would be urged to drop out.

This was a sensitive issue for Chen Xia, so everyone watched her carefully.

At that moment, Chloe stepped forward.

"The family matters were resolved well, right?"

"Yes."

"That's a relief."

Chloe smiled faintly.

Chen Xia smiled brightly at Chloe.

"Thank you for your concern, Chloe."

Then Chen Xia said,

"As you all thought, I was a shadow. But I enrolled in Lumern because I wanted to become a hero. So, although it might be difficult, please treat me as the Lumern student you've known so far, Chen Xia."

At those words, the students who were looking at each other said,

"Yeah. Chen Xia is Chen Xia."

"So what if she's a shadow? She's helped us so much."

"Besides, without Xia, we'll fall behind in the competition with the other dorms!"

"We don't care about your status!"

"Thank you."

Chen Xia smiled brightly.

'She decided to take a head-on approach.'

Leo chuckled inwardly at the sight.

It seemed she had already let go of her worries about her status.

At that moment, Leo and Chen Xia's eyes met.

'Yes, that's enough.'

As Leo nodded, Chen Xia smiled even brighter.

"Oh, right. Speaking of which, Chloe, does the dormitory have a private workshop for alchemy?"

"Yes? Of course, it does."

"There's nothing the dormitory doesn't have! It's in the basement! I'll show you!"

Iliana gave a thumbs-up.

Then she tilted her head.

"But Xia, can you use magic too?"

"No."

"Then why the alchemy workshop?"

"I need to make poison, and it's better to make it with safety-tested equipment."

"Indeed, an alchemy workshop is safe for making poison… making what?"

Iliana looked at Chen Xia with a startled expression.

Chen Xia smiled faintly at her reaction.

"I didn't use it when I was hiding my identity, but now that it's revealed, I can use poison for my Aura Skills, and…"

Everyone swallowed hard.

"Besides, poison is used in various shadow techniques."

Everyone slowly backed away from Chen Xia.

'From now on, I will never mess with Chen Xia.'

Everyone thought so.

Leo covered his face with his hand.

'Even so, that's too honest.'

***

"Hey, Jane. Did you already go on a mission practice?"

"And you went with the Student Council President!"

"Fritz! Tell me! What was the mission?"

In the large lecture hall of the first-year classroom building.

Ten classes were gathered, and the center of attention was there.

It was Fritz and Jane.

The fact that they had gone on a mission practice with Leo, the Student Council President, so soon after enrolling was enough to draw the attention of all the first-years.

"It wasn't that big of a deal."

Jane smiled faintly at her classmates.

"It's nothing, so focus on your studies."

Fritz also replied with his characteristic expressionless face.

"Tch. They're saying it's nothing because they can't tell us."

Some students spoke enviously.

Around this time, the first-years' competitiveness towards each other was at its peak.

Then, Jane and Fritz, who were sitting at a distance, made eye contact.

Both of them snorted simultaneously.

"Wow… I'm jealous."

Luke muttered as he watched Fritz and Jane from afar, while Juen crossed her arms.

"I'm not jealous, not at all!"

As the entire large hall was in a commotion because of Fritz and Jane,

*Thump-*

Someone appeared on the stage.

Even then, the first-years were still chattering.

"If you don't quiet down within ten seconds, you'll all be expelled."

The first-years flinched at the ominous voice.

Then, they realized that Halind was already on stage and turned pale.

"Hey! Be quiet!"

"Professor Halind is here!"

"Shut up!"

The freshmen who were still chattering, not grasping the atmosphere, were forcibly silenced by others.

"Last year's second-years had more sense, they would quiet down just by my appearance,"

Halind muttered in a bored tone.

The first-years shivered at his words.

Seeing the first-years slump their shoulders, Halind clicked his tongue.

"Pathetic. Do you get discouraged just because you're compared once?"

"B-but Professor Halind, the second-years are called the golden generation."

"You seem too afraid of the second-years."

It was understandable.

They were naturally intimidated after being hunted unilaterally during the entrance exam.

"They talk about the golden generation, but in my eyes, they are just yellow chicks like you."

'Though there's a monster too.'

Halind said, recalling Leo, whom he had been in charge of last year.

"It's perfect timing. Therefore, I will provide you with an opportunity to get acquainted with the second-years whom you admire so much as the golden generation."

The first-years looked puzzled at Halind's words.

"I will announce the first semester final exam assignment."

Everyone looked dismayed at the sudden announcement of the final exam assignment from the beginning of the semester.

"Of course, this is not your assignment, but the second-years' assignment."

"What?"

Why would the second-year assignment be announced here?

"Starting tomorrow, the second-years will be your mentors."

"Mentors?"

"What's that?"

"Will the second-year seniors teach us?"

"You will not receive any recommendation for withdrawal due to low test scores until the end of the first semester."

Everyone's eyes widened.

"However."

Halind smiled coldly.

"At the end of the first semester final exam, those below the cutoff line in the comprehensive evaluation will be eliminated. In addition…"

***

At the same time.

Second-year classroom building.

"If the first-years you are in charge of are recommended for withdrawal, you will also be withdrawn."

"Whaaaaaat?"

The entire second-year class fell into a panic at Sedgen's sudden bombshell announcement.