Book 1 Chapter 461

461.

Emio Luchan.

He was a person renowned for being among the top five most skilled students in the second-year Magic Department.

It was shocking when Emio was notified of his expulsion at the end of the first semester of his second year.

Even students who usually didn't get along with Emio were taken aback.

There was clearly a variable that if a mentee was expelled due to the mentor system, the mentor would also be expelled.

However, Remen, the first-year student Emio was in charge of, survived the loser's bracket and barely avoided expulsion.

Emio's expulsion was solely due to his individual ability.

But on the surface, Emio was still considered among the top five most skilled students in the first semester of the second-year Magic Department.

Because of this, Emio felt that his expulsion was unfair.

"Expulsion?"

Emio's eyes glinted dangerously.

Seeing that, Carl flinched and stepped back.

"You, if you do anything foolish…"

"Shut up!"

Emio shouted and pointed his staff at Carl.

Whoosh!

With that, a spell was activated, and a powerful gust of wind enveloped Carl.

Kwagagagaga-!

At the sudden activation of the attack magic, the second-year students nearby looked astonished.

"What? What?"

"Isn't that Emio Luchan?"

"Hey! Are you crazy?! How can you use attack magic here!"

"Are you making this fuss because you got expelled? You should be ashamed!"

Kwagagaga-!

As soon as the shouts of protest ended, Emio's magic flew toward them.

The second-year students flinched and backed away.

Emio shouted at them.

"Do you think this makes sense?! These worthless nobodies survive thanks to connections, and I get expelled?! Does this make sense?!"

Emio, with veins bulging in his neck, roared.

"The same goes for you all! I'll sweep away all you worthless bugs and prove my worth to Rumerun!"

Emio, whose eyes were bloodshot, was not normal.

The second-year students, who had been flustered by the sudden attack magic, also began to show murderous intent in their eyes.

No matter what anyone said, these were students who had survived in Rumerun until now.

No matter how skilled Emio was in the top tier of the Magic Department, if he turned all students into enemies in this situation, he would inevitably be defeated in an instant.

But Emio, having lost his reason, didn't care about such things.

Just then.

"I understand how you feel, but how about taking it easy?"

"Ha?! The great hero has arrived, Your Grace?"

Emio curled his lips as he saw Leo appear, pushing through the crowd.

"What would people think if they knew the great hero takes care of trash just because they're close? Are you happy? Because you're expelling a student who should legitimately remain in school?"

"The student council president has no authority to expel others. And I've never helped Carl. He remained in Rumerun by his own skill."

"What kind of nonsense is that…!"

"Look now, too."

Leo gestured with his chin towards the magic Emio had unleashed.

"It didn't even faze your magic, did it?"

"Ugh~ That was a close call!"

With those words, Emio's wind cleared, and Carl appeared unharmed.

Seeing that, Emio's eyes widened.

"H-How…!"

"Students! Carl Thomas's Shield Bracelet is a great help in emergency situations! It's also designed with style in mind, so it's a sleek design! It's single-use, but it protects your safety and allows you to look good!"

Laughter erupted from various places at the sight of Carl, who was slyly introducing his product with a thumbs-up.

"You damn bug!"

It was then that Emio's face crumpled, and he pointed his staff at Carl again.

"Emio Luchan."

"Kkhh…?!"

Emio let out a groan at Leo's chilling voice.

The other students also flinched and stepped back.

"Let me give you a piece of advice. Don't do anything useless anymore."

Leo said as he approached Emio.

"Because I'm not really inclined to seriously beat up a child."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

With a furious scream, Emio violently swung his staff.

Jiiiing-!

A massive magical force raged.

Kwagagagagang-!

The massive magical force crashed into Leo, and a part of the dock was destroyed.

"What exactly am I lacking?! Weaker guys remained, but what on earth is the reason I got expelled?!"

Seeing Emio screaming, the second-year students narrowed their eyes and took a combat stance.

Then, a flash of light, and a sharp sword struck Emio.

Shhhik-! Kwagagak-!

"Kkh?!"

Emio, who was clad in an armor shield made of magic, was cut and sliced by the sword strike, which cut through his shield.

Thump-!

Bwooong! Bwoong!

Iliana, who had lightly landed on a piece of debris floating on the lake, grinned.

"The beautiful swordswoman, Iliana Raden, has arrived!"

Seeing Iliana's boisterous demeanor, boos poured out from various places.

"How can you say such nonsense in this situation?!"

"She called herself a beautiful girl, she has no conscience."

"Ugh, tsk tsk."

Despite the pouring boos, Iliana didn't bat an eye.

"I'm not interested in you, so don't interfere and get lost, Iliana Raden. Unless you want to die."

Emio snarled fiercely.

"As a student of Rumerun Academy, I cannot tolerate an outsider, who is not a student, attacking fellow classmates!"

Emio distorted his face, emphasizing that he was no longer a Rumerun student, as he looked at Iliana.

"Besides, I've wanted to properly beat you up for a long time. You're just so annoying."

Iliana, who had been laughing, changed her expression instantly.

The usual endlessly light atmosphere gone, Iliana glared at Emio with sharp eyes and pointed her sword.

"You, who are neither good at swordsmanship nor magic!"

Emio swung his staff.

Hwaruruk-!

A massive pillar of flame was generated in the air, and soon wind enveloped the flame.

"Flame Tornado!"

Kwahhhhhhh-!

The flame was overlaid with a cutting wind that tore apart everything it touched.

The firepower intensified further by the wind.

That magic struck Iliana.

Kwagagagagang-!

The flame shot high, causing a series of explosions.

It was when Emio grinned sinisterly at the sight.

Flash-!

As a pure white light flashed, Iliana appeared, cutting through the whirlwind.

Her uniform was burned and torn in various places.

Scratches appeared all over her body, and blood oozed out.

Emio's magic was powerful, so Iliana couldn't completely defend against it.

But there were no fatal injuries.

"How did you… my magic…!"

"It was nothing special! I just cut through it!"

Iliana grinned widely and landed on the lake.

Splash-!

Water splashed everywhere.

But Iliana floated on the lake without difficulty using an Aura Step.

Hwaak-!

And she re-gripped her sword and charged at Emio.

"A frontal assault! Insolent fellow!"

Emio gritted his teeth and unleashed a barrage of magic.

Magic with efficient and powerful firepower, fitting for someone from a military family, poured out.

Seeing that magic, Iliana extended her non-sword-wielding hand forward.

Flash-!

A transparent, pure white, glass-like protective magic was generated like a shield.

Iliana used that shield to bat away all incoming magic, closing the distance with Emio.

"No!"

Emio's eyes widened.

Despite the high-firepower magic, it was blocked by Iliana.

'Impossible! Surely our combat skills were similar!'

While Emio was astonished.

Iliana, who had quickly closed the distance, smiled coldly.

"You're ready, aren't you?"

"Y-eugh-!"

"Pashya!"

Kwaduk-!

"Uh-oh?"

Iliana swung her aura-clad sword vigorously with both hands.

The aura was manifested like a blunt weapon, so it didn't cut.

But Emio was sent flying by the tremendous impact that made him dizzy.

Kwagagagagang-!

Emio rolled several times on the water like a skipping stone, then plunged into the water.

"Hmph."

Iliana shrugged and swept her hair back.

Seeing her, the students looked surprised.

"When did Iliana get so strong?"

"It's completely one-sided, isn't it?"

Iliana smiled and made a V with her hand towards her admiring classmates.

Kwagagang-!

Just then, water surged, and Emio reappeared.

"This damn bitch…!"

Emio, trembling all over, glared at Iliana with a crazed look in his eyes.

Just a few months ago, at the beginning of the second-year first semester, Iliana and Emio's skills were similar.

"Don't make me laugh! If I had participated in the training camp! If I had been fairly evaluated! I would never have suffered this humiliation…"

"The skill gap between you and Iliana already existed months ago."

"Kya?!"

Iliana gasped as she saw Leo appear silently behind her.

"Class rep! You startled me!"

Leo patted Iliana's head, who was protesting, and walked towards Emio.

"Shall I tell you why you were expelled?"

"What did you say?"

"It's true that you're still among the top-tier skilled students in the second-year Magic Department. The problem is that you've barely grown compared to the beginning of the first semester."

"Nonsense!"

Emio's face contorted.

"Wasn't it already difficult for you to keep up with the theoretical classes?"

Emio's practical evaluation was still among the top tier in the second-year Magic Department.

However, in written exams and theory, he plummeted unlike in his first year.

He was clearly different from other lower-ranked students who adopted new things and reflected them in their practical scores.

Emio failed to properly adapt to new learnings in the theoretical field.

The reason he didn't receive failing grades was due to his accumulated previous scores.

Magic as a discipline requires one to constantly embrace new things and integrate them into oneself.

Emio failed to do that at all.

Even in practical areas like combat, students who were clearly weaker than Emio showed significant growth, whereas Emio remained stagnant.

"Crucially, Emio. You can't deal with an opponent who is even slightly stronger than you at all."

A hero is one who challenges the impossible and overcomes trials.

Therefore, heroes were always prepared to fight against opponents stronger than themselves.

But Emio was not like that at all.

"It's true that you're strong in the second year."

Leo said with an expressionless face.

"But to put it differently, you're only in your second year. The professors judged that you, being stagnant there, wouldn't survive in Rumerun even if you remained."

"Don't make me laugh."

"In the second semester of the second year, things will start to happen where you'll have to put your life on the line. In this situation, you could die."

At Leo's words, Emio clenched his fist tightly.

"The professors must have felt regrettable about that."

"Don't talk nonsense! I am fully qualified to be in Rumerun!"

Seeing Emio, who had lost his reason and was screaming, Iliana pouted her lips.

"It's no use talking all you want, Class Rep."

"I guess so. Then I'll be blunt."

Leo cut in sharply, looking at Emio.

"Causing a disturbance like this won't change the fact that you were expelled. So shrivel up. Loser."

"Kruaaaahhh! Leo Flove!"

The moment Emio, whose eyes had rolled back, generated magical power.

Leo's red eyes flashed.

Paching-!

The magical formula surrounding Emio was destroyed.

Emio staggered, shocked by the aftermath.

"Destroying your magic formula is nothing for a student who graduated from Rumerun Magic Department."

Leo walked towards Emio.

"That's enough. If you rampage any further, it won't be able to pass quietly."

"Kruaaaahhh!"

Emio, with his eyes rolled back, lunged at Leo.

Leo exhaled and snapped his fingers.

Hwaruruk! Kwaaang-!

Flames enveloped Emio, causing an explosion.

Emio, who was launched high, crashed to the ground.

Splash-!

Seeing Emio, who had rolled his eyes back and fainted, Leo spoke to his classmates.

"Let's grab him and hand him over to the professors."

"Okay!"

"Got it!"

The second-year students apprehended Emio and confined him with magic.

"A ruckus on the first day of school, huh."

Leo lightly exhaled and shook his head.

***

Thump- Thump-

A vast plain.

In the middle of it was a massive tomb.

In the distant past.

This place was the very center of the battlefield with Tartarus.

A land filled only with despair and death.

This land was saved from the hands of Tartarus by the sacrifice of a hero.

This tomb was the tomb of the hero who saved this place.

A man in a hooded cloak stood before the tombstone and reached out his hand.

A terrifying skeletal hand emerged from beneath the hood.

Thump-!

The one who gripped the tombstone muttered.

A moment later.

Kwaduk-! Kwadudududk-!

A skeleton unearthed itself and rose up.

The skeleton, which emerged from the tomb, strangely twisted its neck and looked at the man.

[You… Duke of Funerals…!]

Seeing the man who revealed murderous intent in his eyes, Artkan, the Duke of Funerals, curled his lips.

"Are you not interested in a second life? Oh, hero unjustly sacrificed."

The skeleton's movement, which had been reaching out with hateful eyes, abruptly stopped.

[Second… life?]