Book 1 Chapter 461

461.

Emio Lucan.

He was reputed to be one of the top five students in the Magic Department, second year.

It was a shocking event that Emio, who was highly skilled, was expelled at the end of the first semester of his second year.

Even the students who normally didn't get along with Emio were surprised.

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

However, Lament, Emio's mentee, survived the loser's bracket and narrowly avoided expulsion.

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

Yet, on the surface, Emio was still one of the top five students in the Magic Department for the first semester of his second year.

That's why Emio felt his expulsion was unjust.

"Expelled?"

Emio's eyes gleamed dangerously.

Seeing that, Carl flinched and stepped back.

"You, if you do anything stupid…"

"Shut up!"

Emio, who shouted, pointed his wand at Carl.

Whoooosh!

Along with it, magic was cast, and a powerful gust of wind engulfed Carl.

Kwagagagaga-!

The surrounding second-year students wore expressions of horror at the sudden casting of attack magic.

"What? What is it?"

"Isn't that Emio Lucan?"

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

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

Kwagagagagang-!

Before the shouts of protest could even finish, Emio's magic flew towards them.

The second-year students flinched and retreated.

Emio shouted at them.

"Do you think this makes sense?! These worthless trash with no skill survive through connections! And I get expelled, does this make any sense?!"

Emio, his neck bulging with veins, roared.

"It's the same for you too! I will sweep away all you worthless bugs with no skill and prove my worth to Lumern!"

Emio, with bloodshot eyes, was not himself.

The second-year students, who were bewildered by the sudden attack magic, also began to show a murderous glint in their eyes.

No matter what anyone said, they were students who had survived in Lumern until now.

Even if Emio was a top-tier magic student, if he turned all the students against him in this situation, he would be defeated in an instant.

However, Emio, who had lost his reason, didn't care about such things.

Just then.

"I understand how you feel, but how about stopping?"

"Huh?! Here comes the great hero!"

Seeing Leo pushing through the crowd, Emio smirked.

"What would people say if they knew the great hero was only looking out for trash because they were close? Is it good? Expelling a student who should rightfully remain at school?"

"The student council president has no authority to expel anyone else. And I've never helped Carl. He remained in Lumern through his own abilities."

"What kind of nonsense is that…!"

"Look now."

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

"It doesn't even scratch him, does it?"

"Ugh, I almost got into trouble!"

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

Seeing that, Emio's eyes widened.

"H-how…!"

"Students! In times of crisis, Carl Thomas's Shield Bracelet is a great help! I also paid attention to the appearance, so it has a stylish design! It's disposable, but it protects your safety while also letting you maintain your looks!"

Carl's smug expression as he promoted his product with a thumbs-up elicited laughter from various places.

"You damn bug!"

Emio's face contorted, and he pointed his wand at Carl again.

"Emio Lucan."

"Kuhp?!"

At Leo's chilling voice, Emio let out a groan.

The other students also flinched and stepped back.

"A word of advice. Don't do anything useless anymore."

Leo approached Emio and said.

"I don't particularly want to beat up a child seriously."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

With a roar filled with anger, Emio swung his wand roughly.

Jiiiing-!

A massive amount of magic swirled.

Kwagagagagang-!

The immense magic engulfed Leo, and a portion of the pier was destroyed.

"What am I lacking! Why am I expelled when weaker people remain!"

Seeing Emio roaring in despair, the second-year students narrowed their eyes and assumed a combat stance.

Just then, a light flashed, and a sharp sword attacked Emio.

Shiik-! Kwagak-!

"Kuh?!"

Even though Emio was covered in an armor shield created by magic, the sword cut through his shield and struck him.

Tak-!

Buuuung! Buuuung!

Iliana, landing lightly on a floating piece of debris, grinned.

"Beautiful girl magic swordsman, Iliana Laden, appears!"

Boos and jeers rained down from everywhere at Iliana's flamboyant entrance.

"You're spouting nonsense in this situation?!"

"She calls herself a beautiful girl, that one has no conscience."

"Tsk, tsk."

Despite the barrage of jeers, Iliana didn't bat an eye.

"I'm not interested in you, so get lost, Iliana Laden, if you don't want to die."

Emio growled menacingly.

"As a Lumern st-u-dent, I cannot allow an outsider who is not a student to attack fellow students!"

Emphasizing that he was no longer a student of Lumern, Emio contorted his face as he looked at Iliana.

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

Iliana's expression, which had been filled with a "Hmph-!" smile, changed in an instant.

Her usual carefree demeanor vanished, and she glared at Emio with sharp eyes, pointing her sword.

"A guy who's neither good at swordsmanship nor magic!"

Emio swung his wand.

Hwarararararar-!

A massive pillar of flame appeared in the air, and then the wind enveloped the flames.

"Flame Tornado!"

Kwaaaaah-!

The biting wind that tore apart everything it touched was overlaid with flames.

The wind further intensified the fire.

That magic engulfed Iliana.

Kwaga gagang-!

The flames soared, causing a series of explosions.

Seeing that, Emio let out a sinister smile.

Flash-!

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

Her school uniform was burned and torn in various places.

She had cuts and bleeding wounds all over her body.

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

However, there were no fatal wounds.

"How did you… my magic…!"

"It wasn't much! I just cut through it!"

Iliana grinned and landed on the lake.

Chapak-!

Water splashed in all directions.

But Iliana easily floated on the lake with her Aura Step.

Hwaak-!

She then gripped her sword and charged at Emio.

"A frontal assault! Insolent brat!"

Emio gritted his teeth and unleashed a barrage of magic.

As expected from a military family, potent and powerful magic poured out.

Seeing that magic, Iliana extended her free hand forward.

Flash-!

A protective magic, transparent and white like glass, formed like a shield.

Using that shield, Iliana deflected all the incoming magic and closed the distance with Emio.

"No!"

Emio's eyes widened.

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

'This is unbelievable! We were supposed to be similar in combat skill!'

While Emio was stunned.

Iliana, having closed the distance in an instant, smiled coldly.

"Are you ready?"

"Eek-!"

"Smash!"

Kudak-!

"Kuhk?"

Iliana swung her Aura-infused sword with both hands.

The Aura manifested as a blunt weapon, not a slicing one.

But the immense shock that made Emio's mind reel sent him flying.

Kwaga gagang-!

Emio, who tumbled across the water like a skipping stone, eventually plunged into the water.

"Hmph."

Iliana shrugged and brushed her hair.

Seeing her, the students looked surprised.

"When did Iliana get so strong?"

"It's completely one-sided."

Iliana smiled and made a V sign towards her admiring classmates.

Kwagang-!

Just then, water surged, and Emio reappeared.

"You damn girl…!"

Emio, his body trembling, looked at Iliana with eyes filled with madness.

Just at the beginning of their second year, Emio and Iliana's skill levels were similar.

"Don't be ridiculous! If I had participated in the training camp! And been evaluated fairly! I wouldn't have suffered this humiliation…"

"The difference in skill between you and Iliana has been evident for months."

"Kyaa?!"

Iliana screamed upon seeing Leo, who had appeared silently behind her.

"Class president! You scared me!"

Leo patted Iliana's head as she protested and walked towards Emio.

"Shall I tell you why you were expelled?"

"What?"

"It's true that you're still one of the top students in the 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 hard enough just to keep up with theoretical classes?"

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

However, his written exams and theories had plummeted compared to his first year.

Unlike other lower-ranked students who incorporated new knowledge into their practical scores, he was clearly different.

Emio couldn't properly adapt to newly learned material in the theoretical field.

He didn't fail because of the points he had accumulated from before.

Magic as a discipline requires constant learning of new things and integrating them into oneself.

Emio was completely unable to do that.

While students who were clearly weaker than him in practical combat like Emio achieved significant growth, Emio remained stagnant.

"Crucially, Emio. You can't deal with opponents who are even slightly stronger than you at all."

Heroes challenge the impossible and overcome trials.

Therefore, heroes are always ready to fight against opponents stronger than themselves.

But Emio was not like that at all.

"You're strong in your second year, that's true."

Leo said with a blank expression.

"But in other words, you're just a second-year student. The professors judged that you wouldn't be able to survive in Lumern if you remained stagnant there."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"In the second semester of the second year, things that will require you to risk your life will start happening. In such a situation, you could die."

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

"The professors must have felt regret."

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

Seeing Emio, who had lost his reason and was roaring, Iliana pouted.

"It's no use even if you talk a lot, class president."

"That's true. Then I'll be blunt."

Leo looked at Emio and said decisively.

"Causing a commotion like this won't change the fact that you were expelled. So, just curl up. A failure."

"Kuaaaaaaaa! Leo Flove!"

The moment Emio's eyes rolled back and he generated magic.

Leo's red pupils flashed.

Pachin-!

The magic formation that surrounded Emio was destroyed.

Emio, shocked by the aftermath, staggered.

"For a graduate of Lumern's Magic Department, destroying your magic formation is nothing."

Leo walked towards Emio.

"This is where it ends. If you rampage any further, I won't be able to let it slide quietly."

"Kuaaaaaaaa!"

Emio, his eyes rolling back, lunged at Leo.

Leo exhaled and snapped his fingers.

Hwarararar! Kwaang-!

The flames that engulfed Emio exploded.

Emio, who shot up high, crashed to the ground.

Cheompp-!

Looking at the unconscious Emio with his eyes rolled back, Leo said to his classmates.

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

"Yeah!"

"Got it!"

The second-year students grabbed Emio and imprisoned him with magic.

"It's already chaotic on the first day of school."

Leo let out a light sigh and shook his head.

***

Tuk- Tuk-.

A vast plain.

In the center of it was a large tomb.

In the distant past.

This place was the heart of a battlefield against 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 land.

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

A chilling, bone-made hand emerged from under the hood.

Tap-!

The one who grasped the tombstone muttered.

A moment later.

Kwak-! Kwadudeuk-!

Digging through the earth, a skeleton rose.

The skeleton that emerged from the tomb bent its neck in a strange way and looked at the man.

[You… Archduke of Dirge…!]

Seeing the man with murderous intent in his eyes, the Archduke of Dirge, Artcan, smirked.

"Are you not interested in a second life? O hero who was unjustly sacrificed."

The skeleton's movement, which had been reaching out with eyes full of hatred, stopped.

[Second… life?]