Book 1 Chapter 27

The male students, having changed into their gym clothes, headed to the training ground.

On the vast training ground, there were other classes besides Class 5.

All the classes whose combat studies overlapped were gathered on the training ground.

Of course, thanks to the enormous size of the training ground, their activity areas did not overlap.

Professor Sena stepped forward in front of the students, who were gathered in small groups on the dirt ground.

Halrind observed Sena's class from behind.

"In combat studies, you will conduct training that allows you to apply your abilities. Any questions, students?"

Iliana raised her hand.

"Yes, student Iliana."

"What exactly does ability application training mean? Is it different from the training in our major subjects?"

"It is different. Let's take magic as an example. Student Iliana, please create a fireball."

Iliana, who aspired to be a dual-class sword mage, created a fireball about the size of her fist without difficulty.

"Now! Student Iliana, how would you apply that fireball to maximize its efficiency?"

"Hmm! First, I'd inject a lot of magic power into the spell structure. Then, if I add a damage boosting spell and a spell copying spell!"

*Fwoosh! Fwoosh!*

The fireball grew larger and then split into two.

"This way, I can maximize the efficiency of the fireball!"

"Is that all?"

"Yes? Um… well. What other spell here could I add…"

Seeing Iliana flustered, Professor Sena smiled kindly.

"It's alright. Next, student Chelsea?"

"Yes, Professor."

"What are some ways to further maximize the efficiency of the fireball here?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't think of any other method besides what Iliana said."

"I see. Then, next…"

The magic major students subtly avoided eye contact.

If even the best magic student in the class couldn't answer, how could they?

"Student Leo?"

"Yes."

"What is the method to maximize the efficiency of the fireball here?"

"Control. Even if you increase the power, you have to be able to hit the target to draw out the efficiency."

"That's correct! I'll give student Leo 5 points for this question."

The students looked bewildered at the overly simple answer.

"When training your abilities, you tend to focus more on increasing power than on control. That's why most students are clumsy with ability control."

The students looked perplexed at the statement that they were clumsy with control.

They use their abilities every day, so how could they be clumsy with control?

"Here's a problem."

Professor Sena summoned a wind spirit, a Sylph.

"I will give bonus points to any student who can capture this Sylph. You may use all your abilities."

The students, fired up with motivation, tried to catch the Sylph.

However, none of the students could catch the Sylph, which was neither fast nor emitted powerful winds.

The Sylph dodged their hands with god-like movements.

After a while, several students attacked simultaneously, but they still failed to catch it.

"Huff-! Huff! Maybe that's not a Sylph!"

Kal lay spread-eagled on the ground, gasping for breath.

"Pant! Pant! Then what is it!"

Chelsea asked, slumping down.

"How would I know?!"

It was at this moment that the Sylph, floating in the air, put its hands on its hips and assumed a self-important expression.

*Fwoosh-!*

A flame aura surged.

Leo, who had been standing still, rushed at the Sylph.

The Sylph, with a relaxed expression, tried to escape.

Leo increased his speed, closing the distance to the Sylph, and reached out his hand.

The Sylph dodged his hand with a *swish-!*

The flame aura on the back of Leo's hand erupted, blocking the Sylph's path.

As if expecting this, the Sylph circled in the air.

However, the wall-like aura instantly turned into a rope and chased after the Sylph.

The Sylph, which had not expected this, was flustered.

Then, it suddenly increased its speed and fled high into the sky before the rope could wrap around it.

"Hey, Sylph! That's cheating!"

At Sena's words, the Sylph made an apologetic expression.

It seemed that in its surprise, it had used more power than allowed.

"Anyway, well done, student Leo."

Sena clapped her hands.

"As you just saw, student Leo did not use a great deal of power. Combat studies is about training to incorporate this kind of application into combat."

The students of Class 5 finally understood Sena's words about being clumsy with control.

Professor Halrind, who had been watching the class from behind, let out a chuckle.

'Indeed, Ain would be drooling over him.'

In terms of aura control ability alone, he was expected to be the undisputed top among the first-year students.

"Huhu, how un-elegant."

*Crackle-!*

With the sound of sparks flying, a flash of golden aura surged and engulfed the Sylph.

*Thump-!*

Before the Sylph could even react, it was caught in one hand.

*Clack-!*

Duran, the male student who had landed on the ground, glared at Leo.

*Clap! Clap! Clap!*

"As expected of student Duran! Truly outstanding skill, befitting a valedictorian!"

"You are too kind."

Duran said to the middle-aged professor.

"Huh? That's strange? Halrind, the most respected professor in Lumen, none of the students in your class could catch the Sylph, yet my Class 1 student caught it so easily, yes."

Halrind looked at the middle-aged professor, dressed in flamboyant clothes, with a tired expression.

"Aha! Now that I think about it, Class 5 was the class with the lowest average, wasn't it? Oh dear, oh dear. I seem to have forgotten that and said something impolite."

"Aren't we starting class? Sedgen?"

Halrind sighed, looking at Professor Sedgen, who was apologizing with exaggerated gestures.

"Of course! I came to start class!"

Professor Sedgen spread his arms wide.

"Class 1 and Class 5! I propose a class versus class competition! Surely you won't refuse, will you? Of course, I won't blame you if you do! Our elegant Class 1 has as many as three valedictorians! Hahahahahaha!"

Professor Sedgen laughed cheerfully, pointing at Duran and the three students at the front of Class 1.

Leo spoke to two of them.

"Hello? Elegant and beautiful students of Class 1."

Celia and Chloe, who had been bowing their heads, looked up and glared at Leo with fearsome eyes.

Of course, Leo was not the type to be fazed by such a gaze.

"Assistant Professor, why is that professor acting like that?"

Chelsea asked with a bewildered expression.

"That is Professor Sedgen. He is a colleague of Professor Halrind."

"Professor Sedgen is as famous as Professor Halrind, isn't he?"

"He is known as the best professor in Lumen."

Unlike the notorious Halrind, Sedgen was a teacher many students sought guidance from.

However, Halrind was the professor most respected by graduates, with Sedgen ranking second.

Because of this, Sedgen had a strong rivalry with Halrind, as Sena explained.

After hearing the explanation, the students of Class 5 saw Sedgen provoking Halrind with all sorts of words.

'Professor Halrind isn't even flinching.'

'Professor Sedgen looks somewhat pitiful.'

Sena, unable to bear seeing Sedgen clinging to Halrind, who ignored all his provocations, spoke.

"Professor Sedgen. Today is the first class, so a sudden class versus class competition is a bit…"

"Ooh! Student Sena Tilia… No! Vice Professor Sena!"

Professor Sedgen approached Sena with his arms spread wide.

"How long has it been! I've worried about you so much! Seeing you become a vice professor fills my heart with emotion!"

"Thank you for your concern."

Sena greeted him with an awkward smile.

"Anyway, Vice Professor Sena! It doesn't matter if it's the first class! As long as they are Lumen students, unexpected situations can happen at any time!"

"Still…"

"Our proud Class 1 students are always ready for a class versus class competition, aren't they?"

"Yes!"

"As expected, elegant!"

At Sedgen's words, which showed satisfaction, Kal chuckled and approached Class 1.

And with his unique sociability, he taunted the Class 1 students he had become friendly with during the temporary class period.

"Truly elegant! Students of Class 1!"

"Do you want to die?"

"Don't tease us?"

Several Class 1 students, including Celia and Chloe, growled at Kal.

However, Kal's teasing continued.

"What event will we compete in?"

"Hoohoohoo! As expected, you won't run away! Are you sure it's alright? Class 5 students are clearly going to lose?"

"I'm not interested in winning or losing."

Halrind said in a dry voice.

"What's important is that students will learn something from any outcome."

"Then your students will learn the feeling of defeat!"

"Even if they learn the feeling of defeat, we can teach them how to overcome it. And…"

Halrind curled the corners of his mouth.

"Conversely, they can learn the composure of a winner."

Seeing Halrind's magnificent comeback, the Class 5 students looked moved.

'Professor Sena's words were true!'

'Even though they speak harshly, our homeroom professor clearly cares about us a great deal!'

"We respect you! Professor!"

Sedgen smiled a cruel smile.

"Alright, then let's make a bet. The losing class will have the penalty of cleaning the bathrooms in the first-year classroom building for a month. And the losing professor will buy drinks for the winning class!"

"I don't mind."

At that answer, screams erupted from Class 5.

"Kyaaaaaak!"

"To accept such a thing so readily!"

"Hey, beautiful ladies?"

Kal, who had been teasing incessantly, was sweating profusely.

"Even so, we're friends, so you'll go easy, right? Maybe something like a draw?"

"We're going to win no matter what."

"That's right, elegantly."

Celia said with a cold smile, brushing her hair back, and Chloe cracked her knuckles with an evil smile.

"Leo! Chelsea! I'm counting on you! Save our class!"

Kal immediately put on a dejected face and clung to Leo and Chelsea.

In Class 5, only the grade representative Leo and the Western exam runner-up Chelsea could contend with the valedictorians.

"I have no intention of losing."

"That's right. A mage of the Rwallyn family would never learn to lose."

Leo said leisurely, and Chelsea crossed her arms with a *Hmph!*

"So? In what event will we decide the winner?"

"Hoohoohoo! Isn't there a traditional event in Lumen's combat studies class?"

At Halrind's question, Sedgen smiled meaningfully.

"So it's that."

Halrind let out a small sigh.

Tension began to flow between Class 5 and Class 1.

"No way… that?"

"To think we'd actually have to do it."

"I've done it before."

The students swallowed nervously.

Only Leo looked puzzled.

"Is it a pretty intense event?"

"It's no joke. It's an official event even during exchange matches with other hero academies."

Chelsea said in a tense voice.

If it was an official event during an exchange match that determined the school's pride, it must be a fiercely competitive event.

*Clap-!*

As Professor Sedgen clapped his hands, the assistant homeroom teacher of Class 1 handed something to Sedgen.

It was a transparent ball about the size of a fist.

"One of Lumen's combat studies traditions! We will decide the winner with Bastera!"

'After building up the serious atmosphere, they're going to play with a ball?'

Leo looked at it with an absurd expression.