Book 1 Chapter 253

"Push him!"

"Attack!"

Countless first-years rushed towards Leo.

There was no hesitation in their movements.

It was clearly different from the entrance exam.

During the entrance exam, they felt the burden of elimination if they were caught by Leo.

But not now.

The entire first-year class actively attempted to attack Leo.

And they all had the same thought in their minds.

'If we keep pushing like this, even the great Leo Phlobe will get tired soon! Then we'll have a chance!'

The entire first-year class was waiting for the moment Leo would get tired.

"Pick and choose~ Pick and choose~ Who will become Leo's mentee! Here are the current betting odds!"

Kal quickly showed the betting board he had checked.

"Ho? I'll bet on Aina Veidna."

"Yes! Senior!"

As the commotion began, the first-years aiming for Leo's mentee position heard the news and flocked to the magic department building.

It was such an entertaining spectacle that not only second-years but also third and fourth-years, who had been away from school on missions, came to watch after hearing the rumors.

"What do you think will happen?"

Meanwhile, Avad, who was watching the situation from afar, asked.

"What do you mean, what will happen?"

Duran, who came to watch after hearing the news, snorted.

"There's no way the first-years can land a solid hit on Leo Phlobe right now. Especially in this chaotic state."

"True."

Avad nodded.

"Leo Phlobe doesn't get tired. And if he can use guerilla tactics… the first-years will self-destruct."

It was exactly as he said.

Leo leisurely dodged or blocked the first-years' attacks and weaved through them.

Every time, the first-years ended up attacking each other.

In a way, some even intentionally did so to reduce their rivals.

"They can't even be called true hero candidates yet."

The freshman year is the period of most significant skill improvement in Lumern.

During this time, unexpected talents are discovered, and students who ranked low on the entrance exam often rise to the top.

It was virtually impossible for such inexperienced freshmen to land a solid hit on Leo.

"It would be more likely to have a chance in a one-on-one fight."

It was as Duran said.

Right now, the ones attacking were more flustered.

This meant they couldn't closely observe Leo's movements.

*WHOOSH-*

Leo flew into the air.

"I was waiting!"

Shasha, riding a flying beast, quickly flew over.

Seeing that, Leo smirked and used a flight magic.

*SWOOOSH-*

"Gasp!"

Shasha was startled by the incredible maneuverability and speed.

"Is it possible to move like that with flight magic?"

The first-years' mouths hung open.

"They're not used to Lumern's common sense yet."

"Well, they're first-years."

The upperclassmen watched the astonished first-years as if they were cute.

Some of the first-years' attacks even spilled over to the spectators.

Of course, no upperclassmen were hit by such attacks.

In the end, by the end of lunch, no first-year had successfully attacked Leo.

The pre-bell for class rang.

"Huff! Huff!"

"I… I can't move anymore… Ugh!"

"Kek! Kehek!"

The first-years lying on the ground suffered from mana depletion and exhaustion.

Seeing their state, the upperclassmen laughed and dispersed.

"Ah~ That was fun."

"There have been a lot of interesting events since the beginning of the semester this year."

The third and fourth-years chuckled and returned to their classrooms.

The second-years looked at the first-years with pity before returning to their classrooms.

Leo looked at the first-years sprawled on the ground, exhausted, and asked,

"Isn't your next class a joint Hero Studies class taught by Professor Artian?"

"Yes."

"B-But, Senior."

"Then you should hurry."

Leo said, looking at the clock tower in the magic department building.

"It'll be a big problem if you're all late for class together, so hurry up and go."

"B-But we can't even move?"

"Professor Artian is kind, so she'll probably let it slide even if you're a little late, right?"

Groans came from among the first-years.

Hearing that, the second-years paused.

"They don't know Professor Artian's true nature yet, do they?"

The second-years' guide teacher at last year's entrance ceremony was Artian.

And they had experienced Artian's terror on the first day.

That's why they couldn't move in front of her from the very first class.

But it seemed the first-years didn't know much about Artian yet.

On par with Halind.

No, in some ways, Artian, who displayed a terror even greater than Halind.

The second-years all thought inwardly at the same time.

'They're dead.'

***

That evening.

Leo, who was resting in the Glory dormitory, went outside to meet the first-years who had come to see him.

The visitors were five students from the Knight Department.

"Hello, Young Master Leo. We apologize for not being able to greet you sooner due to the busy schedule."

Martina, the representative, greeted him with a smile.

They were none other than Leo's knight order, the Slayer Knights.

"Yes. By the way, you guys didn't try to attack me at lunchtime, did you?"

Leo looked at his knights with a smile.

At his question, the knights trembled.

"Don't you want to be my mentee?"

To Leo's question, Julan and Carin frantically waved their hands.

"Th-That's not it."

"Young Master Leo helped us with many things during the entrance exam! We couldn't receive help from you after enrollment."

"Yes! We wanted to succeed in Lumern on our own strength!"

At Julan and Carin's words, Martina, Austin, and Valerie also nodded frantically in agreement.

It was indeed true.

The five of them received special training from Leo before the entrance exam and rapidly improved their skills.

It was also true that thanks to that, they were able to pass Lumern's entrance exam.

However, on the other hand, they were also afraid of becoming Leo's mentee.

Having experienced Leo's training, the knights were intimidated.

'After the sea of fire, I can't even imagine!'

Leo chuckled as he watched his knights speak frantically, and sat on a bench, asking,

"What was it like after lunch ended?"

"It was a mess."

Martina's face turned pale.

"I never dreamed Professor Artian would be such a terrifying person."

She said that fewer than fifty first-years had not been late for Professor Artian's Hero Studies class.

Currently, it was a temporary class period, so there were no important lessons, but that didn't mean a group being late for class would be excused.

Artian, who was initially dejected, suddenly changed when the latecomers arrived all at once.

'What?! You say you were late because you were fighting with Leo Phlobe? If you like fighting that much, then the class content can be fighting toooooo!'

Artian, possessed by a hot-tempered hero through necromancy, went berserk.

The first-years, whose stamina was already depleted by Leo, were ravaged by Artian's anger.

"It was… scary…!"

"I fully understand why Lady Celia warned us to be careful of Professor Artian."

Carin held her arms and trembled, and Valerie was drenched in cold sweat.

Leo sighed, as if he had expected this.

"By the way, Young Master. Do you have any intention of taking first-years as mentees?"

Martina asked respectfully.

Having received training from Leo, the Slayer Knights knew very well about Leo's abilities.

Currently, most of the first-years had the hope that Leo would eventually show a weakness.

'But there's no weakness in Young Master Leo.'

Leo's movements were close to divine, and there were no blind spots.

With Leo's 'super senses' from Arion, there were no blind spots.

'And he never gets tired.'

Most first-years thought they could become Leo's mentee by chance or luck, but in Martina's eyes, it was absolutely hopeless.

'This is practically saying he won't take any mentees.'

Seeing Martina's puzzled expression, Leo chuckled.

"Well. There are five who have potential."

"As expected, the Princess, the Crown Prince of Virsen, the daughter of the Southern Magic Tower Master, and the Sword Saint's granddaughter."

"That's right."

Martina nodded.

In her eyes, those four were on another level.

Especially Aina Veidna, a student of Zerdinger, was so impressive that Martina, who had seen countless sword geniuses, was astounded.

"Who is the remaining one?"

Carin asked, her eyes sparkling.

"He's coming over there."

Leo said with a smirk.

At his words, the knights' gazes turned towards where Leo was looking.

And they were surprised.

"Luke Elda?"

The lowest-ranked first-year was hesitantly approaching Leo.

***

Leo stood in the training ground where the second-year dormitories were gathered.

In front of Leo, Luke held a wooden sword with a tense expression.

'He was here during lunch too.'

And Luke didn't move at all to attack Leo.

He was simply observing Leo's movements from a distance.

"Th-Thank you for making time."

"I was the one who told you to attack anytime. Don't worry."

Leo chuckled, seeing the timid Luke.

Seeing Leo, Luke's face flushed.

'It's different from the entrance exam. Now I'm a Lumern student like Leo-ssi!'

The person he admired was right in front of him.

Leo Phlobe, whom Luke had encountered in old newspapers from his quiet rural village, instantly became an object of admiration for Luke.

A great hero like those he had read about in fairy tales as a child.

Among the five great heroes, Luke's favorite was none other than Kyle, the Hero of Beginning.

Most people don't like Kyle, the Hero of Beginning, even as a fictional character.

But for Luke, who came from the countryside, it didn't matter much whether he was a real hero or not.

All-class like Kyle.

And even heroic deeds that made his heart flutter.

To Luke, Leo was like someone who had stepped out of a fairy tale.

Literally the purest admiration.

To be in the same place as such a person.

'Is it okay for someone like me?'

Luke gave an awkward smile.

But Luke wanted to talk to Leo.

"Hoo."

Luke took a deep breath and got into his stance.

*WHOOSH-*

Luke closed the distance to Leo and swung his sword.

The sword moved swiftly.

But Luke was clearly following Leo's movements.

'Indeed, this guy is currently the weakest among the first-years.'

Leo lightly dodged Luke's attack.

'His swordsmanship is crude, and his aura control is clumsy.'

Seeing Luke's sword, imbued with aura, aiming for his neck, Leo flicked his finger.

*BOOM-*

"Kuh?!"

Just blocking the attack made Luke's body shake.

Normally, even if the opponent doesn't counterattack, seeing the overwhelming difference in skill would make one lose their will to fight.

And despair.

Luke was no exception.

Not just Luke.

By the end of lunch today.

All the first-years had the same look in their eyes as Luke.

They felt despair at the overwhelming difference in skill.

However.

Gritting his teeth, Luke swung his sword again.

Seeing that, Leo smiled.

'It's natural that his skills are poor. He learned everything through self-study.'

Luke truly entered Lumern on his own.

And furthermore…

*VROOOM-*

Luke's mana stirred.

'I felt it during the entrance exam, and now it's certain, this guy's mana characteristic.'

The aura grew larger.

'Mana amplification through emotion.'

He tries not to stop moving forward, even in despair.

He heightens his emotions and attacks again.

He's not doing it because someone taught him.

He's doing it unconsciously.

'The world calls such people heroes.'

***

"Huff- Huff- Ugh!"

Luke covered his mouth and barely stopped himself from throwing up.

He didn't have the strength to move a finger.

Even though he moved with all his might, he hadn't even grazed Leo.

'Amazing.'

Luke looked at Leo, who was calmly sitting in front of him, with admiration.

"Leo-ssi."

"Why?"

"Can I… become a hero too?"

"Who knows."

Leo chuckled.

"But if you don't stop challenging the impossible, people can always achieve great feats."

"Ah, that's what Lisinas-nim said!"

"Yes. I don't mind not taking mentees, but try to struggle once."

Leo chuckled.

"Overcoming one's limits is the work of a hero, but making the impossible possible is also the work of a hero."