Book 1 Chapter 351

351

The Magic Academy.

Where the world's greatest mages gathered to discuss magic.

It was, quite literally, an academy that led the future of the magic world.

Generally, various organizations attend, starting with the magic towers of each region, magic guilds of several countries, and hero academies.

Among these diverse groups gathered at the Magic Academy, the magic towers held the most sway.

Publicly famous were the mages belonging to hero academies or kingdom guilds.

This was natural, as they had proven their skills on the front lines of combat and built their reputations.

However, a powerful mage was not necessarily the best mage.

They were merely those who best utilized existing things; those who created new things, pursued change, and led trends were inevitably researchers.

This was also the essence of magic.

It was the mages of the magic towers who best understood and pursued that essence of magic.

This year's Magic Academy was held in Seirun, which was rare. Other hero academies like Rumern, Azonia, and Demian, as educational institutions representing their respective races, had a high interest in magic and frequently hosted academies.

However, the path of magic that Seirun fundamentally pursued was different from the general path of magic.

The magic of stars.

A magical system left by Luna, the progenitor of nebulae, who was considered the greatest mage when magic existed on this land.

This was because Seirun pursued the magic of stars.

The unique magic of elves.

Generally, new magic theories or interpretations presented at academies often did not align with the magic of stars.

Coupled with Seirun's unique insularity.

Due to various overlapping factors, despite Seirun being the hero academy that valued magic the most among the four, it was very rare for a Magic Academy to be held there.

As the Magic Academy was being held in Seirun, the direction of the magic world was drawing attention.

***

Two days after the midterm exams ended.

Lunchtime.

Lower-grade students rushed out to eat lunch.

Although the lower-grade students had achieved overwhelming results in the exams, the exam results had not yet been released.

Therefore, discrimination based on class rankings continued.

However, the students were no longer intimidated by this apparent discrimination.

Their abilities had already been proven through the exams.

There were no longer any middle or upper-grade students who looked down on the lower grades.

Instead, they even cast glances at the lower-grade students when they passed.

Even so, the lower-grade students still did not eat lunch in the cafeteria.

As usual, the lower-grade students prepared their lunch in the common room, which was their hideout.

While making sandwiches for lunch, Eclair arrived with a bright smile.

"Hello, everyone!"

Since becoming friendly with the lower-grade students, Eclair had continued to hang out with them.

After the exams ended, Leah also joined them for lunch.

Of course, Leah's objective was to meet Leo.

"Today, some other students came with us, is that okay?"

"Yes, that's fine."

Angr, said with a gentle smile.

"You can come in!"

As Eclair gestured behind the door, famous students entered.

They were none other than Elik, currently ranked second among the first-years, and Yoiniya, ranked fourth.

The appearance of these unexpected students made the lower-grade students' eyes widen.

"They want to eat lunch with us."

As Eclair said with a beaming smile, Yoiniya said in a sullen voice.

"I only came because I have something to ask."

Yoiniya, crossing her arms and scoffing, approached Angr.

"You're Angr, right? The class president of the lower grades."

"Yes."

"I have something to ask. How were you able to develop your skills so much?"

Angr scratched his cheek.

He couldn't say he had read forbidden books designated by the school.

"It's thanks to the great guidance from Teacher Laura and Senior Leo."

At Angr's words, Yoiniya glanced at Leo.

Then, she approached him and bowed respectfully.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Leo Flob. I am Yoiniya of the Tella family. I have heard much about the reputation of the Rumern student council president. It is an honor to meet you."

Yoiniya, who bowed elegantly like a daughter of a noble family, asked seriously.

"I'll ask directly. How were the students here able to develop their skills so quickly in such a short period?"

"I only provided the catalyst. Developing their skills was an achievement made through their own efforts."

"Then please tell me about that catalyst."

"I don't particularly want to tell you."

Yoiniya's eyes twitched.

"Is it because I am an upper-grade student?"

"It means it's not particularly necessary."

At those words, Yoiniya wore a puzzled expression.

"If you had just performed teamwork properly back then, the Verus team couldn't have achieved such an overwhelming victory. If I were to point out a regrettable aspect, it would be that you were excessively focused on high-level magic."

"You're saying the same thing as the second-year seniors."

Yoiniya fell into thought.

After the defeat, rather than denying reality, she was trying to find a breakthrough.

At that moment, Leah, who had received her sandwich, handed it to Leo and said.

"After the exams, there are quite a few students in the upper grades who have questioned the existing teaching methods. Yoiniya is one of them."

It was natural, as they had been surpassed in skill by the lower-grade students overnight.

While enjoying their meal, Eclair tilted his head.

"I suddenly have something I'm curious about."

"What is it?"

"How do the first-year students at Rumern compare to us?"

At those words, the movements of the Seirun first-year students eating lunch stopped.

Rumern and Seirun.

They were rivals in the Ruse Wars, and the current Rumern first-year students would be rivals competing with Seirun students in the future.

As Eclair's question hung in the air, everyone wore tense expressions, and Leo spoke.

"What is there to compare? Both you and our school's students are just chicks who have taken their midterm exams."

At those words, Elik adjusted his glasses.

"I am curious, though. I vaguely heard before that Rumern currently has a 'mentor' system, right? Do you also have a mentee?"

At those words, Leah, who was chewing her sandwich, perked up her ears.

Turning her head sharply, Leah glared at Leo.

"I do."

"Your mentor must be famous, right? Aina Vade from the Knight Department? Habiden Vircen? Or Shasha Shiene Rodren from the Summoning Department? Or is it Juhen Torvina from the Magic Department?"

"Elik… you know the names of so many Rumern first-year students."

Eclair said with a look of wonder, and Elik replied.

"They are rivals we will compete against. It is only natural to keep an eye on strong opponents."

Listening to Elik, Leah's eyes blazed.

'Who is it! To receive direct guidance from Senior Flob! Such an envious person!'

Angr bit into his sandwich roughly, as if tearing at meat.

"It's a guy named Luke."

"Luke? Elik, do you know him?"

"…This is the first time I've heard that name."

Elik scratched his head.

'Luke! From today onwards, you are my enemy!'

Leah burned with fighting spirit inwardly.

Luke, who had unintentionally become an enemy of Seirun's top first-year student.

"By the way, the academy starts tomorrow. What kind of magic theories will be presented?"

"Personally, I'm curious about the '[Introduction to the Magic of Stars]'. Although it's considered a blasphemous grimoire in Seirun, it's a reinterpreted spell that allows anyone to use the magic of stars. As a mage, I can't help but be curious."

At Yoiniya's words, the entire lower grade flinched inwardly.

The [Introduction to the Magic of Stars].

It was, in fact, the driving force behind the great turnaround this time.

'The academy. I should go to the airport this evening to pick up Vice Professor Anna.'

***

That evening.

Seirun was busy preparing to welcome external guests.

It was a rare occurrence for so many outsiders, regardless of race, to visit Seirun when it wasn't during the Ruse Wars.

Even in Seirun, where the influence of the Pureblood Association was deeply felt, these were world-class mages.

Among them, there were many mages who had made it onto the Hero Records and reached the rank of hero, so they couldn't treat the academy attendees poorly.

The entire student body gathered in front of the campus to welcome the academy attendees.

"Hoo! It's cold! So cold!"

Early evening.

As he shivered in the cold wind, Lunia narrowed his eyes as he looked to his side.

"Do you know you're really conspicuous standing like that?"

Lunia said, shaking his head.

Leo chuckled at his words.

"It's the same outfit you always wear, isn't it?"

Leo was none other than wearing Rumern's school uniform.

Leo was also attending the Magic Academy to assist Vice Professor Anna.

As such, he naturally became a representative of Rumern, and naturally wore Rumern's school uniform.

But at this moment, when no one had arrived, Leo, proudly wearing Rumern's school uniform in front of the entire student body, was too conspicuous.

Lunia shook his head, watching Leo, who didn't bat an eye despite the gazes of all Seirun students being directed at him.

'Sometimes he seems to have nerves of steel.'

"The Seirun uniform looks good on you too."

It was when he grumbled slightly.

Just then.

The mages began to arrive at the campus.

"Welcome to Seirun."

As the mages appeared one by one, the students chanted their welcome in unison.

Meanwhile, Leo, watching the arriving mages, spotted Vice Professor Anna and approached her.

"Vice Professor Anna."

"Ah! Student Leo!"

Vice Professor Anna smiled brightly upon seeing Leo.

"Is life at Seirun going well?"

"Yes. It was fun."

"…I can see you've been through a lot."

Vice Professor Anna looked at her student with a bittersweet smile.

"In any case, leave this academy to me."

Vice Professor Anna said with a determined expression.

"I can't let you, student Leo, go through more heartache."

"Ah, about that."

Leo smiled.

"I caused a bit of a stir here at Seirun."

"…"

Seeing Leo smiling, Vice Professor Anna felt a sense of foreboding.

"What… does that mean?"

"I'll tell you the exact details once we get to the accommodation."

***

"It's been a while, Teacher Heridius."

"It has been a while."

Heridius exchanged warm greetings with an elf mage who greeted him warmly.

He was none other than the Archmage of the Northern Magic Tower.

Algren Beggs.

Despite being an elf, he was a formidable mage who held the position of Archmage of the Northern Magic Tower.

Despite such ability, he was not a graduate of Seirun.

The reason was simple.

He could not master the magic of stars.

A few Seirun teachers narrowed their eyes as they looked at him.

They were from the Pureblood Association.

However, they could not carelessly treat a mage of the stature of the Archmage of the Northern Magic Tower.

"I am looking forward to this academy as well."

"Yes. But this academy is more than just me."

Algren smiled and pulled the girl next to him by the shoulder towards him.

"I hope you look forward to my daughter's performance more."

A beautiful woman in her early twenties bowed her head towards Heridius.

A half-elf.

Although the faces of some Pureblood Association teachers contorted visibly, Heridius paid them no mind.

"It's a shame. If Miss Anya had enrolled in Seirun, her accomplishments would undoubtedly have been great."

Heridius said with a look of regret, and Algren smiled.

"My daughter is not very interested in becoming a hero."

"What? Isn't she a talent worthy of becoming a hero?"

"No, I don't think I will become a hero."

Anya shook her head.

Heridius wore a puzzled expression as he watched Anya.

When the mother and daughter finished their greetings and walked away.

"Father. Look over there."

Algren looked in the direction his daughter pointed.

"Hoho."

And he spotted Leo, whose attire stood out distinctly among the Seirun students, and his eyes lit up.

"Is that Leo Flob?"

Algren's eyes sparkled.

'All-class, like the Great Hero of Shadows.'