Book 1 Chapter 268

The next morning.

The second-year students of Lumern gathered at a restaurant attached to the dormitory building assigned by Demian.

They ate breakfast and talked.

"No matter how I think about it, didn't it feel like the Seirun kids were glaring at us a lot yesterday?"

"The overall teacher for the second year looked like they were shooting lasers from their eyes!"

"Why on earth is that?"

Most of the conversation revolved around Seirun's attitude from the previous night.

The students of Lumern and Azonia were mostly enjoying the banquet prepared by Demian.

Of course, there were some noble students who felt uncomfortable with a banquet atmosphere that resembled a bar in the street.

However, their numbers were not large, and even if there were, they didn't show it.

In such a situation, Seirun, who arrived late, ruined the banquet, so it was natural that not only Demian students but also Lumern and Azonia students wouldn't look favorably upon them.

Moreover, Seirun had displayed considerable animosity towards Lumern.

For the second-year students who had experienced the Seirun students through the Rusé battle, it was a bewildering experience.

The atmosphere was completely different from the Rusé battle.

While they were angry at the sudden change in atmosphere within a few months, they also felt a sense of bewilderment.

"It must be because of Professor Ren."

"Professor Ren? Why Professor Ren? He didn't even come this time."

"Perhaps the magic theory Professor Ren announced this time offended the Elves."

The students from other departments looked perplexed at the words of the magic department student.

"The magic theory Professor Ren announced?"

"Are you talking about the magic theory related to the magic of stars?"

"Why that?"

"Ugh? Do I have to explain it?"

In the first magic department class of the second year, Ren revealed his newly completed magic theory to the students.

[Introduction to Star Magic]

It was a new concept magic theory that allowed anyone with an aptitude for magic, not just elves, to be initiated into star magic.

In fact, in the first class, Chloe, one of the top students in the second-year magic department, immediately succeeded in being initiated into star magic.

It was a magic theory that could literally change the landscape of the magic world.

Indeed, when Ren's paper was published, the magic world was in an uproar.

However, Seirun, the center of the elf magic world, was in an uproar for a different reason.

If one were to pick the most conservative magic academia by race, elves would be chosen.

Star magic, considered the unique magic of elves.

The great legacy left by Luna, the progenitor of constellations, had been treated as the exclusive property of elves until now.

Occasionally, other races' mages with outstanding talent would learn star magic, but they were very few.

In fact, before Professor Ren published [Introduction to Star Magic], only Leo had been initiated into star magic among the second-year mages.

Since only a very small number of non-elves could learn it, the elves did not pay attention to them.

However, [Introduction to Star Magic] could turn many mages into star mages.

Star magic, which had been thought to be exclusively for elves for thousands of years, was no longer exclusively for elves.

Star magic was also a magic that greatly contributed to elves being called the race of magic.

The elves were perceiving [Introduction to Star Magic] as an invasion and threat to their traditions.

The knight department student who heard the explanation from the magic department student clasped their arms.

"Is that so?"

"It seems like a difficult story for a muscle-brained person like you."

"What? Did you say that?"

Waaak-! Waaak-! The morning was noisy.

Meanwhile.

"Chloe, is something wrong?"

Celia asked Chloe carefully.

Chloe was eating soup with her fork, looking somewhat lost.

After looking at Chloe for a moment, Celia asked Chen Xia, who was next to her.

"Xia, did something happen?"

"Nothing happened."

"Really?"

"I told you nothing happened."

"Hmm…"

Celia looked at Chen Xia with a slightly displeased expression.

'I shouldn't provoke her.'

Although she was smiling with her usual face, the atmosphere was strangely sharp.

It was when Celia was trying to read Chen Xia's mood.

"So, what's with that unpleasant glare?"

An annoyed voice was heard.

Turning their heads, Chelsea, holding her tray, walked towards Cal, complaining.

"No, it's just… I'm curious about what kind of reaction they'll have if they know."

Cal, teasing Chelsea with a sly smile, spotted the three girls and greeted them.

"Oh! Good morning!"

"Cal. Would you like to sit here?"

"Sure~"

Chelsea glanced at Celia and said primly.

"I'm going to my older brother."

"Hey, just sit here. Avad will be with Duran anyway."

Chelsea pouted and, with an elegant gesture, glanced at Celia eating her salad before taking a seat as far away from Celia as possible.

"By the way."

Cal looked at Chloe and Chen Xia with a lecherous smile.

"Young ladies. You look like you haven't slept well?"

"I slept well, Cal."

"Really?"

Cal chuckled with a playful smile.

Chen Xia smiled faintly at Cal and asked.

"By the way, where is Leo?"

"He said he'd sleep a little longer. He seemed tired."

"Did you sleep late last night?"

"Yes, very late."

"That's strange. Leo, for him to oversleep."

"I know, right? He has monstrous stamina, so he shouldn't be waking up late even if he sleeps late."

Celia and Chelsea, who didn't know Leo had left the dorm without permission last night, looked puzzled.

"Well, maybe he did something that made him tired. I don't know."

"What is it?"

"If you shared a room, you'd know what he did."

"Ask them. They might know."

Cal chuckled and took a bite of bread.

Clang-

'Clang?'

As an unusual sound came from the bread, Cal took it out of his mouth.

The bread was frozen solid, so cold it hurt his hand.

Cal swallowed dryly and turned his head.

If someone were to do this here.

"…"

He turned his gaze to Chloe, who was glaring at Cal, her shoulders heaving with a flushed face.

"Cal."

"Yes, miss."

"You know I'm your friend, but I'm older, right?"

"Of course, older sister."

"And I'm from the shadows. I've learned various torture methods."

Chen Xia rested her chin on her clasped hands.

Cal, sitting with his back perfectly straight and his spine erect, broke out in a cold sweat.

"Can I tease you? Or not?"

"No! I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"

Cal answered with a crisp salute.

Chen Xia smiled deeply at Cal.

"…What's going on?"

"How would I know?"

Chelsea asked with a displeased tone, and Celia also looked bewildered.

"Good morning."

Leo, holding his tray, yawned and sat down.

Chloe flinched at the sight of Leo.

Chen Xia also relaxed her posture and glanced at Leo.

"It's strange that you overslept."

"Something happened last night."

"What happened?"

Leo said indifferently to Celia's question.

"I had to meet Professor Mel late at night."

"Puh-phoo!"

Chelsea, who was drinking water, spat it out without realizing it.

"You left the dorm without permission to meet Professor Mel?"

Celia asked, narrowing her brow.

"Why?"

What could possibly require meeting a professor in the middle of the night without permission?

Moreover, Mel was a very beautiful young professor.

Chloe, her face slightly flushed, looked away and listened.

Chelsea looked flustered and fidgeted, while Chen Xia, as always, was smiling but her eyes were slightly hardened.

"She told me to be careful not to get involved with the Seirun kids? She also gave me advice about the Elves?"

Leo said indifferently.

"She said she came instead of Professor Ren to avoid provoking Seirun this time."

"Ah~"

Celia nodded as if she understood.

"Come to think of it, Leo's name was also listed as a co-author on Professor Ren's [Introduction to Star Magic] that was announced this time, right?"

Chelsea, upon hearing the story, laughed as usual.

Chloe returned to her usual expression, and Chen Xia smiled faintly.

Cal, watching them, said slyly.

"You all have such vivid imaginations~ What on earth are you thinking… Ugh! Chloe! I won't do it!"

As all the food on his plate began to freeze, Cal screamed and begged for forgiveness.

"What on earth were you thinking?"

Chen Xia smiled faintly at Leo's question.

"When you said you met the beautiful Professor Mel late at night… well, we were worried something like that might have happened."

"You thought a male student and a female professor were going on a date at night?"

Leo clicked his tongue.

"Kids these days have such unhealthy imaginations."

"You're one of those kids too, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"Leo. Do you know you sounded like a total old man just now?"

Seeing Celia and Chen Xia looking at him with incredulous expressions, Leo thought to himself.

'Even Mel, who you think of as an adult, treats me like an old man.'

***

After breakfast.

The students of Lumern, Azonia, and Seirun gathered in one place.

The students from each school sat together in the large lecture hall where Demian's second-year students had their classes.

"Are there any Seirun guys who would be fun to fight?"

"Don't think so? It would be more fun to fight the Lumern guys."

"I want to fight Leo Flove as soon as possible."

Azonia, sitting between Lumern and Seirun, looked at both schools with shining eyes.

"Hmph, just fighting in their heads."

"It's no different from what I heard in the rumors."

The Seirun students scoffed at the Azonia students.

"Don't they look dangerous?"

"Beastmen and Elves have a natural animosity. We should have sat in the middle."

It was when Cal clicked his tongue, looking worried, and Chelsea sighed.

Screeeech-! Bang-!

The doors of the large lecture hall opened, and Demian's second-year students rushed in.

They weren't wearing formal uniforms like yesterday.

The Demian students, dressed in their respective work clothes, took their seats in front of the lecture hall.

Thump- thump-

And then, a dwarf walked onto the stage in the large lecture hall.

"It's good to see you all again, students of the Hero Academy."

The one who stood on the stage was Smith Defeto, the overall manager for the second year.

"The reason we've arranged this meeting today is for you to sign exclusive contracts with the Smiths of our Demian."

Defeto said, looking around the audience.

"5,000 years ago, the Divine Blacksmith, Lord Duweno, was responsible for crafting the weapons of his fellow Great Heroes. Continuing that tradition, we dwarves have been crafting weapons for heroes for generations."

Defeto said with a meaningful expression.

"And today, our Demian students will have a session to evaluate you as blacksmiths."

At Defeto's words, Iliana from Lumern raised her hand.

"Yes, pretty young lady who looks pure, what are you curious about?"

"Oh my, oh my. He said I look pure."

Iliana wiggled her body and blushed shyly.

"Ugh!"

"I feel sick."

Of course, the reactions from her surroundings were harsh.

Iliana, who kicked away the male students who were teasing her, said.

"I am Iliana Laden from Lumern! You said Demian students will evaluate us, so I'm curious about how they will evaluate us."

"It's nothing special. Please announce the weapons you would like to commission from our Demian students."

At those words, all the students of the Hero Academy froze.

"What materials will you use, what will be the strength or mana output of the weapon, or any additional enchantments? What characteristics will the weapon have, and what are its pros and cons?"

Defeto looked at the students.

"Please think of the weapon specifications in detail and announce them. The Demian students will choose you based on that."