Book 1 Chapter 339
339
That afternoon.
In the Seirun lower-class classroom, Leo was preparing for the next class.
Seirun, like Lumerne, doesn't only have major-specific classes.
There are also various general classes.
Among them, the most important is the Battle Magic class.
If it were Lumerne, it would be the Combat Studies class.
The difference was that, true to Seirun's emphasis on Star Magic, it focused on combat utilizing Star Magic.
Other lower-class students also prepared for class with enthusiastic expressions.
Even the lower-class students who had almost half-heartedly boycotted classes all attended magic-related classes without exception.
Everyone was burning with enthusiasm.
‘If you saw them like this, they’d all be honor students.’
Leo rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
‘Now, how to overhaul Seirun…’
If Leo were affiliated with Seirun, he could gradually change things, even if it took time.
But Leo was, after all, an outsider.
‘Asking Mel would also have its limits.’
It was true that the Dragon Lord could exert immense influence over each Hero Academy.
However, there were limits to interfering with its operation.
‘The best way would be to publicly announce that Seirun's current methods are wrong, you know.’
It was while Leo, resting his chin, was pondering this.
Creak-
The classroom door opened, and Laura rushed in.
“Everyone! Get ready to go outside!”
At Laura's sudden words, the lower-class students' eyes widened.
“Today, we’re going to have a practical Battle Magic class!”
“Really?”
“Can we really have class at the Battle Magic training ground?”
The students asked, their eyes wide.
“Yes! The permission finally came through today!”
“Wow!”
“Finally, practical training!”
Cheers erupted from everywhere.
Leo, seeing this, wore a bewildered expression.
“Why are they reacting like this?”
Anr, who was sitting next to Leo, smiled bitterly.
“Our lower class has never had a practical Battle Magic class before.”
“You’ve only been studying theory until now?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m so happy! We finally get to test the Star Magic we’ve been studying! As you know, theory alone has its limits!”
Practical training is essential in magic study and research.
Even if one masters complex magic formulas and devises new attack methods, whether they are useful in actual combat or not.
And to know if they suit oneself, practical experience was ultimately necessary.
And, like Lumerne's Magic Department.
Leaving simple magic aside.
Conducting full-scale offensive magic experiments outside of designated school areas is prohibited by school rules.
Because it's dangerous.
‘The deeper I dig, the more discrimination I find.’
Leo sighed and rose from his seat.
The lower-class students, with excited faces, headed for the practical training classroom.
Outside.
They pushed through the severe cold and arrived at the outdoor practical training classroom.
The Star Magic practical training classroom was, literally, a comprehensive collection of magic.
The inside of the practical classroom was as warm as a spring day.
Besides that, there were magic scarecrows to test magic attack power and even golems to assist in combat.
Literally everything needed for magic combat was present in this place.
‘The system looks better than Lumerne's.’
Leo stroked his chin.
It wasn't just equipped with systems for practical magic combat.
Systems that would be of great help to knights and summoners were also equipped.
Indeed, it looked like a Hero Academy, the one among the four schools where magic was most developed.
It was a moment when even the lower-class students couldn't hide their admiration as they looked at the Battle Magic practical training classroom.
“They’ve arrived, lower class.”
“Professor Ottren?”
Laura wore a flustered expression, looking at Ottren, the homeroom teacher of Seirun's first-year advanced class 1.
“When I inquired at the faculty office, they said our class had received permission to use it, so why is advanced class 1 here?”
Seeing Laura ask with a bewildered face, Ottren burst into laughter.
“Ah. It seems the faculty office didn't announce it, did they? Today, the Battle Magic practical training classroom was originally scheduled for our advanced class 1 to use all afternoon. But I took pity on the lower-class students and specially permitted a joint class. Be grateful, students of the lower class.”
Laura’s face hardened.
“To show such great consideration to our class… I don't know what to do. But if our class is here, it will certainly interfere with advanced class 1's lesson. So, our class should do it next time…”
“What? Professor Laura! It's a rare opportunity!”
“Can't we do it together?”
Flustered voices were heard among the lower-class students.
The lower-class students, starved for lessons, wanted proper instruction.
They didn't want to miss this rare opportunity for practical training.
“Professor Laura, the students want it so much, are you still going to leave?”
Laura gritted her teeth.
‘His intention is too obvious.’
As an authoritarian, there's no way he would show kindness to the lower class.
His intention was only one.
It was to show the lower-class students the disparity between them and the advanced-class students.
“Students of the lower class, let's do this.”
Ottren stood before the lower-class students and spread his arms.
“In today’s class, you and the students of advanced class 1 will conduct a duel lesson.”
At his words, the lower-class students' eyes widened.
“If you win! That student will be proof of an excellent student worthy of the advanced class! I will immediately assign you to the advanced class!”
At the extraordinary condition, the lower-class students' eyes widened.
But soon, they clenched their fists.
Although they were in the lower class due to low achievement in Star Magic, many students in the lower class couldn't accept the fact that they were in the lower class.
There were also students who were confident that, while only lacking in Star Magic achievement, their overall abilities were superior to those of the advanced-class students.
Anr tightly clenched his fist.
“Advanced class…”
“Since it's a Battle Magic class, there's only one rule! A duel using only Star Magic!”
However, at Ottren's subsequent words, the lower-class students wore flustered expressions.
“A, a duel using only Star Magic?”
“Does that mean it’s a magic duel?”
“It does, but?”
“Professor Ottren! My main focus is summoning magic!”
Verus, a lower-class student majoring in summoning, raised his hand and spoke.
He was a student who led the lower-class summoning major classes and had outstanding skills.
At Verus's words, Ottren's face turned cold.
“What about it?”
“Pardon?”
“If you are a proud student of Seirun, isn't it obvious that ‘Star Magic’ is more important than summoning?”
“Th, that’s…”
“If you prioritize summoning over Star Magic, is there any reason for you to be at Seirun?”
At Ottren's extremely Star Magic-centric remark, Verus fell silent.
“And, if you’re so confident in summoning…”
Ottren, curling up the corners of his mouth, pointed at a student.
“I'll give you the chance to test your skills against Leah, the top student of the first year.”
Verus fell silent.
Leah Tingel.
A direct descendant of the Tingel family and the student who successfully communicated with the Fairy King yesterday… boasting top skills in both magic and summoning.
It was then that Ottren scoffed, looking at the silent Verus.
Anr spoke.
“Professor Ottren. If that’s the case, will you allow us to compete against Leah with all our might, not just magic?”
Ottren, glancing at Anr who asked with eyes full of defiance, scrunched up his face.
“How truly rude. Are you, a mere student, continuously challenging a teacher’s authority? Very well. I will permit the duel. However, as payment for challenging my authority, if you lose, I will immediately expel you. Do you still wish to proceed?”
Anr flinched.
Leah wore a flustered expression.
Anr, who had been clenching his fists and trembling his shoulders, bowed his head deeply.
“I apologize. I misspoke.”
“Hmph. Then, before assigning duel opponents.”
Ottren curled up the corners of his mouth.
“I will personally show you, students of the lower class, what practical Battle Magic truly is. You there, white-haired lower-class student.”
Ottren pointed at Leo with his finger.
“Me?”
As Leo pointed to himself with his finger, Ottren curled up the corners of his mouth.
“Yes. It would be good for you to give a demonstration as the lower-class representative. Step forward.”
Ottren walked to the center of the dueling arena.
Seeing this, Leo let out a small laugh and asked.
“Is it a duel using purely Star Magic?”
“Yes.”
“Is the use of any other magic strictly forbidden?”
“Of course.”
‘Then you'll regret it.’
***
‘To be able to witness Senior Plob's Star Magic!’
Leah was clasping her hands and her eyes sparkling.
“Why is Professor Ottren dueling with a lower-class runt? It'll just be a waste of time anyway.”
An advanced class 1 student wore an annoyed expression.
At his words, Leah's eyes shot open.
‘Who did that bastard just call a runt?’
“Don’t call your classmates runts.”
At that moment, Ellick adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses and said.
Seeing Ellick, the male student who had scoffed at Leo curled up the corners of his mouth.
“Why? Are you also from an insignificant family, so you sympathize with runts?”
Ellick's eyes turned cold.
“You seem to think you're something just because you're second-ranked. We'll see if you're still second-ranked after the midterms… *Gasp!*”
Wham-!
The male student who had been scoffing had his waist twisted as if folding backward.
Leah, who had delivered a precise dropkick to the male student's waist, said with an apologetic expression.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry. I was just trying to catch a bug, and then…”
“Th, that can happen. *Ugh!*”
“It seems he’ll have to go to the infirmary after all.”
Laura sighed and sent the male student, writhing in pain, to the infirmary.
Seeing Leah, who wore her usual innocent smile, the advanced class 1 students seemed to believe Leah's words about catching a bug.
“But can there really be bugs in a practical training classroom?”
“There could be.”
During the small commotion.
Ottren, standing in the center of the dueling arena, snapped his fingers.
Whoosh-!
With that, over a hundred Ottrens appeared.
Star Magic Mirage.
One of the most basic Star Magics, said to have been frequently used by the founder of the Nebula.
Exclamations erupted from everywhere as they witnessed Ottren's magic.
“As expected, if it’s a professor, even basic magic is on a different level.”
“A hundred clones, wow.”
‘Leo Plob. Since last year, you've been challenging Seirun's authority.’
Ottren glared at Leo.
Ottren had already heard about Leo's true identity.
The reason for conducting this class was partly to show the lower class the gap between them and the advanced class.
But before that, he also intended to personally step forward to crush Leo.
‘I'll teach reality to you, who acts as if you've mastered all Star Magic just because you can use a little of it.’
Leo, looking at Ottren who displayed hostility towards him, muttered with an expressionless face.
“Crude.”
That murmur was heard only by Ottren.
‘How dare that fellow utter such nonsense…!’
Ottren, who had been grinding his teeth, suddenly made eye contact with Leo and flinched.
‘Could this guy possibly have figured out the real one?!’
Seeing Ottren's shocked expression, Leo raised his hand.
Vwoom-!
A magic circle appeared.
In a duel using only 'Star Magic' in this world, no one could defeat Leo.
‘Except for one person, that is.’
Remembering his friend, Leo smiled.
Even if Leo's power now was incomparably weaker than during his Grand Hero days, that fact remained unchanged.
Leo analyzed Ottren's magic in an instant.
‘Because a fake can never defeat the original.’
Whoosh-!
Ottren's magic was instantly dispelled.
Ottren's face was painted with shock.
“What did you do?”
“If you perfectly interpret the magic formula, dispelling it is easy, isn't it?”
“It can’t be possible to perfectly interpret someone else’s magic that quickly…!”
“It’s possible, which is why your magic was dispelled so simply.”
Leo approached Ottren.
Vwoom-!
Leo's body multiplied into a hundred.
The same Mirage magic.
Everyone gazed at Leo with shocked faces.
“How is my Star Magic, Professor?”
An intricately woven magic formula was visible to Ottren.
“Would you care to evaluate it with your esteemed skill?”