Book 1 Chapter 35

[35]34

After school, when classes were over.

Leo headed to the Tower of Heroes in the center of the academy, where the student council was located.

Arriving in front of the Tower of Heroes, Leo looked up at the incredibly tall building.

"It's damn tall," Leo exclaimed.

"You're a first-year."

"What brings you here?"

"Oh, how cute."

Upperclassmen passing by noticed Leo and murmured in surprise.

The Tower of Heroes was a place frequented by upperclassmen.

First-year students harbored an instinctive fear of seniors who had been through thick and thin, a fear characteristic of juniors.

Therefore, they tended to avoid areas where upperclassmen were likely to be found.

"Oh? Leo-kun?"

Someone called his name, and he turned his head.

Standing there was Toura, a fifth-year student from the Magic Department.

"What brings you all the way here?"

"I have some business with the student council president."

"With Riss?"

Toura tilted his head in confusion, then nodded.

"Want to come along?"

Toura led Leo inside the Tower of Heroes.

"So, Leo-kun, when do you plan to quit your other majors?"

"I have no intention of quitting my other majors."

"Leo-kun, as I told you before, time is limited. I know you excel in other majors, but in my opinion, you are most specialized in magic."

Toura grumbled in dissatisfaction but said no more.

He had been summoned by the professors before and had received a scolding.

Leo marveled at the interior of the Tower of Heroes.

Numerous portraits of heroes hung at the building's entrance.

All of them were graduates of Lumen.

The facilities were also incomparably better than those of the first-year building.

While the first-year building wasn't lacking in facilities, the Tower of Heroes was simply overwhelming.

Standing with Toura in an elevator that moved by levitation magic, they ascended to the upper floor in an instant.

They arrived at the floor used by the student council.

"Hello, Vice President. Who is this first-year?"

"This is Leo-kun."

"Leo? The famous first-year representative?"

A third-year student council member's eyes lit up.

"Yes. He's here to see the student council president."

"Are you interested in the student council from your first year? That's commendable."

He smiled and took away some documents.

Overall, the student council had a very busy atmosphere.

"Speaking of which, the midterm exam assignment for first-years was the development of unique magic, right?"

"Yes."

"Do you have any ideas in mind?"

"A magic formula system based on neutral magic."

"Neutral magic-based? That's a concept I've never heard of. Can you explain it?"

"Mages have a primary magic attribute, right?"

"Yes. That's why opposing elements exist. Even if you can use all elements, you can't use opposing elements simultaneously."

"Yes. I want to use neutral magic to freely manipulate magic of all attributes and increase my versatility."

"That's an interesting idea. But it's preposterous."

Toura chuckled.

"There's a reason people don't try it."

"I know."

Leo nodded with a smile.

"But wouldn't it be better to be special if possible?"

Toura, with his arms crossed, chuckled.

It seemed that the junior before him was not just skilled in magic formulas.

'New attempts are always important for a mage. It's such a shame.'

It's a shame that someone who is so much like a mage is coming to the all-class program.

'Talented individuals need to be set on the right path from the start. I should have a serious discussion with Professor Ren.'

Determined to make him choose the Magic Department somehow, Toura stood in front of the student council president's office.

Knock knock-

"Come in."

Creak-

"Hello, Riss. Leo wanted to see you, so I brought him."

"Leo?"

Riss, who was sitting in his office and moving his quill, stood up with a welcoming expression.

"Yes, Leo. What do you need from me?"

"Student council president."

"When we're off duty, you can call me 'hyung'."

Riss said with a smile, and Leo nodded.

"Then, hyung Riss. I have a request."

"What is it?"

"I want to enter the Forbidden Library."

"I don't know why you want to enter the Forbidden Library, but students cannot enter it without permission."

Toura said, reaching for some snacks on the side of the student council president's office.

"Can't the student council president enter without permission either?"

"Unfortunately, even I don't have the authority."

Riss smiled, resting his chin on his clasped hands.

"Of course, there isn't absolutely no way for a student to enter, but…"

"What is it?"

"Conquer the Hero Dungeon."

"The Hero Dungeon?"

"Yes. It's customary for the conqueror to return the recovered pages to the Hero Record themselves after conquering the Hero Dungeon."

"Of course, you still can't read the books in the Forbidden Library freely, so give up."

Toura grumbled.

To sum it up, it was impossible to enter as a first-year, and even if they did, it would be difficult to obtain the desired information.

'Then I'll just sneak in.'

Human psychology dictates that people do what they are told not to do.

Riss and Toura, unaware that Leo had reached this conclusion, smiled meaningfully at Leo.

"How are your exam preparations? Are you nervous since it's your first exam?"

"I'm doing reasonably well."

Leo replied calmly to Riss's question.

"Is that enough? You know that the grade representative changes every exam at Lumen, right?"

"Yes."

"There are many people who covet your position."

Toura said, munching on cookies.

Since it was the beginning of the semester, the grade representative position, though not yet prominent, was very advantageous at Lumen.

The grade representative truly meant the best among the best, even within Lumen, where only the best gathered.

They not only represented the school in various internal and external events but also received significant benefits.

They were literally the face of their batch.

Crucially, the grade representative was also the closest to becoming the next student council president.

"You know that your batch is highly anticipated by the higher-ups at Lumen, right? Can you defend your grade representative position against such formidable individuals?"

"I'm not particularly interested in the grade representative position. However…"

Leo smiled.

"I have no intention of giving up the top spot."

"You have great confidence. I'll be looking forward to it."

Riss smiled with satisfaction.

***

The first-year examination after enrollment was enough to make the students nervous.

However, at the same time, all the first-year students were also looking forward to this exam.

Chelsea, sitting in the stands at the training ground of the first-year classroom building, tapped her leg and said.

"Professor Halind was right. They've changed so much in just a few months."

She muttered while spinning her staff in the air.

Rune letters imbued with magic appeared in the air, and the formula was completed in an instant.

Tade, a classmate, shook his head in admiration, watching her.

"You're always so fast."

"High-speed casting is a long-term effort. Of course, I've gotten significantly faster."

As Halind had predicted, the first-year students' skills had improved at an astonishing rate.

Even Chelsea, who came from a hero family and had received excellent education since childhood, had grown noticeably.

Where she stood now with her changed self.

The new students felt a strange confidence and excitement.

"By the way, I'm worried about Leo-oppa."

As Chelsea spoke while looking at the training ground, Tade sighed.

"Well, there are quite a few people targeting Leo."

As it was early in the semester, most of the major courses were theory-based rather than practical.

And it was none other than Leo who shone in those classes.

An honor student recognized by all professors.

However, even Leo had areas that could be evaluated as weaknesses.

"Lumen's exams have a high practical component, so will he be okay?"

Aura, magic, spiritual power.

Leo's fundamental powers were weak.

Especially since Leo was taking all three majors simultaneously.

Normally, this would create an even greater gap compared to students who focused deeply on a single discipline.

Therefore, many students evaluated Leo as being proficient only in theory and weak in practice.

"Of course, those in the upper-middle class can't even compare to Leo-oppa, but the top-tier students might be a challenge."

"Maybe it would be good for him to choose one major now."

As Tade muttered.

Professor Ain, standing in the center of the training ground, said.

"We will now begin the practical examination for first-year Knightship."

His voice, imbued with aura, resonated throughout the vast training ground.

Immediately, whistles and applause erupted from all around.

Although there were still two weeks until the exam period, the practical examination for the Knightship Department began today.

The training ground of the first-year classroom building was crowded with students who had come to watch the Knightship practical examination.

Among them were not only first-year students but also upperclassmen.

"Is Kal really planning to sell things?"

"Money flows where people gather. That's his motto."

Chelsea said incredulously, and Tade chuckled.

As expected, Kal was selling snacks.

"Professor Sedgen."

Kal, who was levitating snack stalls around him with levitation magic, approached his homeroom teacher, Professor Sedgen.

"What is it? Student Kal."

Professor Sedgen looked at Kal with a disinterested expression.

His reaction was unenthusiastic as he was approached by a student from Halind, whom he considered a rival.

"How about some popcorn and drinks?"

"Hmph, do you think I'd buy that? Sell it to your own homeroom teacher, Halind, and your classmates."

As Sedgen said sarcastically, Kal's expression turned glum.

"I thought you were a leader who knew how to boost class morale, Professor Sedgen, so I thought you'd buy some. It seems I was mistaken and have offended you."

"Hmph. If you think I'd fall for such a transparent ploy, you're greatly mistaken, student Kal."

It was at this moment that Sedgen showed an expression of utter disbelief.

"Professor! Are you buying popcorn for us?"

"Wow! It looks delicious!"

Students from Class 1 cheered.

At that reaction, Sedgen's ears perked up.

"As expected, the professor is a leader who knows how to boost class morale!"

Currently, Class 1 had all its members present to cheer, led by Sedgen.

Sedgen's lips curved into a smile at the cheers of his students.

"Since the students want it, I have no choice. Hand them out."

"Yes!"

"With caramel, please."

"Thank you!"

After completing the payment, Kal handed popcorn and drinks to the Class 1 students with a friendly smile.

He also slipped some dried squid to a few students who had responded enthusiastically earlier.

"Alright! Everyone! Shout it out with elegance! Class 1 fighting!"

"Class 1 fighting!"

In any case, the Class 1 students, whose spirits were lifted, shouted energetically.

Meanwhile, Kal, sitting alone in a corner, sighed as he looked at Chloe, who was reading a black grimoire.

"Chloe."

"……."

"Hey, Chloe!"

"Huh?"

Chloe looked up.

Kal sighed as he looked at his friend's exhausted face.

"Take a break. You'll collapse if you keep this up. You should know how to enjoy yourself sometimes."

"I don't have time for that."

Chloe said, frowning.

Kal, scratching his head as he looked at Chloe, offered her a fatigue recovery potion from his pocket.

"I don't have any money."

"It's okay. I'm giving it to you because I'm worried about you as a friend."

"Here! Popcorn and drinks!"

"Yes! Yes! Coming! Hey, take a break! Alright?"

Kal waved his hand and quickly ran to a senior who had placed an order.

Chloe smiled slightly at his retreating figure and took a sip of the potion.

Just then.

"First duel. Class 1 Haul Nayf, Class 5 Leo Flove. Step forward!"

'Leo.'

Chloe clenched her fist as she looked at Leo.

'I will absolutely not lose.'

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