Book 1 Chapter 258

258

"Going to Demian for two weeks."

"Come to think of it, the third-years also left school in groups around this time, didn't they?"

"An exclusive Smith contract, I'm looking forward to it!"

Weekend.

The second-year students on the regular ferry heading to Lumeria City were abuzz with talk about the announcement that came down yesterday.

It was an official notice that the entire second-year class would be leaving for Demian for two weeks starting next week, after the weekend.

As the long-awaited moment approached, all the second-year students were thrilled and couldn't hide their excitement.

The reason the second-years were going to Demian was simple.

An exclusive Smith contract.

In other words, it was a period to make a contract with a blacksmith who would be responsible for their armaments throughout their school life.

Demian was a little different from typical hero academies.

Demian's dwarves were powerful hero candidates, and at the same time, their great heroes.

They were also excellent blacksmiths, like Dweno.

As such, dwarf heroes often took responsibility for the armaments of other heroes.

It could be said to be one of the biggest events in the second-year academic schedule, as it laid the foundation for future relationships.

Unable to hide their excitement, the second-year students headed to Lumeria City to prepare before leaving for Demian.

***

Murmur- Murmur- Murmur-

Lumeria City on the weekend was one of the most vibrant places in the world.

Lumeria City was the center of the world.

Moreover, the special reason for Lumeria City was not simply its geographical location.

Lumeria City was also adjacent to Lumeren.

Naturally, many people gathered to see the future hero candidates.

This was also a unique characteristic of Lumeren.

Sayrun was located in the northernmost central part of the continent.

A land of harsh cold that seemed to freeze one's bones.

Furthermore, races other than elves could not freely travel in the elven territory.

In addition, Sayrun students rarely left school unless on a mission.

As a result, it was also a hero academy that maintained the most elusive and mysterious image among the students of the four great hero academies.

The situation was similar in Azonia.

It wasn't that other races couldn't travel freely in the beastmen's land, and the free-spirited Azonia students often roamed outside the school, but they were still hard to see.

That's because Azonia Academy is geographically located in the center of the desert. Moreover, monsters swarmed around Azonia.

In Azonia, these monsters were deliberately not extensively subjugated to improve the students' skills.

Finally, Demian Academy.

They were located in the vast mining region of the east.

And perhaps due to the nature of their race, most of them were engrossed in making something cooped up in their rooms, making it difficult to see their faces.

Unlike these three academies, Lumeria City, where Lumeren was located, was geographically easy to access.

And on weekends, many students came out to Lumeria City to play, so they could be met relatively easily if one wished.

Thanks to this, people from outside often visited to see the hero candidates, and the resulting tourism revenue was also considerable.

Today, more students than usual came out to Lumeria City.

Most of them were first and second-year students.

The second-year students deliberately brought their juniors to Lumeria City to bond more with their mentees before heading to Demian.

"First, I'll have to get you a uniform."

Celia, who came to Lumeria City with Leo, said, looking at Luke.

"Huh? A uniform?"

Luke made a bewildered expression.

"Yes. That one, you inherited it from a graduate, didn't you?"

At Celia's words, Luke scratched his head.

"Lumeren uniforms are expensive."

"Yes, I know. That's why I'm getting you a new uniform."

"Why?"

"You are Leo Plov's mentee. Leo is my cousin and a direct descendant of the Gerdinger family. In other words, it's no exaggeration to say that you are connected to Gerdinger."

Celia sharply pulled out a card with the Gerdinger crest from her pocket.

The card, held between her index and middle fingers, shimmered- brightly.

"You need an appearance befitting a Gerdinger."

At Celia's words, Luke smiled and scratched his head.

"I appreciate the thought, but I'm fine. I'd be grateful for financial support, but I don't think I'm worthy of it yet."

Celia blinked at his polite demeanor.

"If you put it that way."

Whoosh-!

Celia put the card back in her pocket and smiled.

"Being independent isn't bad either. Well, in the case of my mentees…"

Celia narrowed her eyes.

"Their independence is so strong that I don't think I'll get the satisfaction of looking after them."

Where her gaze fell, two girls stood.

They were Aina and Martina.

They weren't quite like Leo, but they were girls who became Celia's mentees after quite rigorous trials.

'In this child's case, there seems to be another intention.'

Celia narrowed her eyes and looked at Aina, who was staring blankly at Luke with an expressionless face.

On the last day of choosing mentors.

Celia had been quite surprised when Aina suddenly appeared and asked to be accepted as a mentee.

'I accepted her as a mentee because she has skill, but.'

Celia knew very well that Aina had no intention of learning anything from her.

'She seems quite obsessed with Leo. How should I guide her?'

While Celia was deep in thought.

Chelsea, who had bought chocolate-coated pretzel sticks from a street vendor, crunched- crunched- on her snack and said to Luke.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"Celia Gerdinger bragging about having a lot of money. Isn't it a bit much?"

"No, not at all."

"Hm. Respecting your senior. That's a very good attitude. But sometimes you need to be honest. I'll take responsibility."

Chelsea grinned.

"It's a bit much, isn't it?"

"Why are you picking a fight?"

As Celia frowned, Chelsea stuck out her tongue.

"Don't worry about Leo Oppa's mentee and take care of your own mentees!"

"You're the one without a mentee, so stop lurking around and go away!"

Luke was bewildered watching the two rivals bickering, and Martina, as if used to it, tried to calm them down.

Aina watched the two seniors with an expressionless face.

"Leo! Why did you bring this damned Ruvalin woman along?!"

"I have something to ask."

"Ask? What do you need? I'll do it for you, so just send her away!"

"It's about magic."

"Ugh?!"

Celia's face distorted.

If it was something related to magic, there was nothing Celia could do.

Celia gave Chelsea a hateful look, then took Aina and Martina and left.

Chelsea smiled watching Celia's retreating back, then made a puzzled expression.

"By the way, it's unusual for Leo Oppa to have something to ask me about magic."

Even at the beginning of the first year, Leo had received a lot of help related to magic from Chelsea, who was in the same class.

As much as he was unfamiliar with the latest magic trends and spell formulas, Chelsea's theoretical knowledge as an excellent mage was very helpful.

However, he was only unfamiliar with the latest magic.

The depth of Leo's magical knowledge was on a different level.

It was a level where even summoning the world's best mages would not be enough.

After Leo became somewhat accustomed to the latest magic, he mostly received help rather than giving it.

'But he has something to ask me?'

Chelsea's eyes sparkling.

While questioning, she hummed a tune.

"I'm thinking of buying some grimoires and magic items."

"Oh! Then let's go to Kuraz's Magic Street with me!"

Kuraz, Lumeria City's busiest district.

The section there specializing in magic items was called Magic Street.

It was a place that sold everything needed for magic.

Grimoires, of course, and catalysts needed for magic research, and so on.

And Leo had hardly ever been to Magic Street.

'Because Leo Oppa is a perfectly practical mage.'

Leo was a great mage, but he was far from a mage in the essential sense of the word.

The essence of a mage is exploration and research.

And Leo's magic was focused on 'combat'.

Of course, that's not wrong.

A mage specializing in combat doesn't mean their magic lacks depth.

For example, Leo's unique magic or the star magic he had mastered.

'The magic theory Leo Oppa uses is at a level that most mages can't even understand, let alone imitate.'

Chelsea, in terms of temperament, was also a mage closer to Leo's side.

However, while Chelsea was interested in non-combat magic research, Leo had almost no such interest.

'If it were Leo Oppa, he would demonstrate incredible abilities in magic research too.'

Chelsea clicked her tongue.

Given the situation, he had little connection with Magic Street.

Everything Leo needed to learn magic was available in Lumeren.

And during the first year, whenever Chelsea, Carl, or Chloe tried to take Leo to Magic Street, Celia would rush over and interfere.

'Hmph. She must have been afraid Leo Oppa would get too engrossed in magic.'

Chelsea snorted, recalling last year's events.

But not now.

'Maybe he asked for my help because he's interested in non-combat magic research, not combat magic. Leo Oppa even restored the magic to make Luna-nim's flowers bloom, didn't he? He definitely must have been interested in non-combat magic research! He was too busy in his first year, but now that he's a second-year and has more free time, he might be trying to get interested in magic research!'

Chelsea decided to think positively.

Of course, if he were interested in that direction, there would be no need to ask Chelsea, as Chloe, an expert in that field, was in the same dormitory.

But Chelsea hadn't thought that far.

Humming a tune, the three arrived at Magic Street.

Luke's already large eyes widened even further at the magical world spread before him.

"Wow…"

Brooms automatically cleaning the floor.

Various mages moving objects using magic. Anyone could see that this street was filled with magic.

Everything was solved with magic.

In Lumeren's case, school rules encouraged restraint in using magic in daily school life, so surprisingly, such a sight was rare.

As such, scenes like this place were not often created.

"It's amazing."

"Huh? It's a common sight."

Chelsea shrugged at Luke's exclamation.

For Chelsea, a person from Ruvalin, arguably the greatest magic lineage, it was nothing new.

"Oh! Chelsea!"

At that moment, the owner of an ice cream stall near the entrance to Magic Street spotted Chelsea and waved with a bright smile.

"Hello, sir. How have you been?"

"Good! I'm testing a new product right now, what do you think?"

"Three, please!"

Chelsea shouted, holding up three fingers.

The shop owner laughed heartily, made three-scoop ice cream cones, and sent them flying with telekinetic magic.

"Ah, well…"

"As your senior, I can buy you this much, so eat without worry."

As Chelsea winked, Luke said, "Thank you," and ate his ice cream.

"Mm! Mm! I think this will sell well!"

"Hoo, your evaluation is accurate, so I'm looking forward to the sales, aren't I?"

The shop owner chuckled.

Afterward, Chelsea continued to walk down the street, greeting various shop owners.

"You're famous."

"I'm somewhat famous, aren't I?"

Chelsea, who had laughed 'Hmph,' asked.

"Anyway, what can I help you with?"

"I'd like you to recommend some introductory magic books. I learned magic through self-study, so I know almost nothing about introductions."

Even in his previous life, Leo learned magic through self-study.

He learned by observing and adopting the magic theories used by others.

Therefore, he truly knew almost nothing about introductory magic.

'Austin also taught in a rough-and-ready way.'

He did teach him to use the magic he needed immediately.

However, purely as a mage, Austin was severely lacking in fundamentals.

'Illiana will take care of that part.'

"Introductory magic books? Who are you teaching?"

"Yes."

"Who? Is there another person with magical talent among Leo Oppa's knights?"

When Chelsea made a puzzled expression, Leo shook his head.

"No."

"Then who?"

In response to Chelsea's question, Leo pointed to his side with a finger.

Luke, who was eating ice cream, widened his already large eyes even further.

And just in case, he looked to his side.

But there was no one there.

"Uh… me?"

Luke carefully asked again.

"Yes."

"I don't know how to use magic."

"Because you haven't learned it. But you also have talent as a mage."

"Me? Really?"

Luke asked in a bewildered voice.

"Yes. So, you'll be doing magic training with me from now on."

Luke felt his heart pounding.

"By the way, keep the fact that you've learned magic a secret until the final exams."

"Huh? Why?"

"That's obvious."

It was Chelsea who interjected into the conversation.

"Because it'll be your trump card."

"Exactly."

Leo smiled.

"The more jokers, the better."

Especially Luke's mana characteristics are more suited to magic power than aura.

Mana amplification based on emotions.

While mages agonize over how to increase the power of their magic, Luke is born with that ability.

"That's certainly true! If I even master magic… my chances of surviving in the first semester of first year will increase!"

"Of course, it should."

It was then that Chelsea also smiled faintly beside him.

"Survive? What are you talking about?"

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

Chelsea and Luke looked at Leo with puzzled faces.

"Your goal for the first semester of first year is to be the top of your class."

"What?!"

"Leo Oppa, no matter what, that's impossible…"

"It's possible."

Leo smiled gently.

"Because I'll make it possible."

Luke was so surprised he still hadn't grasped the situation.

Tap-!

Chelsea placed a hand on Luke's shoulder with a sad face.

"I hope you survive."

At her words, Luke swallowed hard.

"What kind of school life am I going to have?"

At that question, Chelsea grinned.

"That's impossible to know. What's clear is that it will definitely be a hellish school life."