Book 1 Chapter 52
The day after the midterm exam period ended, the students of Class 5 happily chatted and got up from their seats after school.
“Hey! Let’s have a party to celebrate the end of our exams! A party!”
“Karl! You know something, don’t you? I’m all for it!”
It was when Karl and Iliana were planning the celebration party.
*Thud-*
The classroom door opened and Halinde entered.
“Everyone, sit down. I’ll give you 5 seconds.”
“Gasp!”
“Hey! Move! Move!”
At Halinde’s declaration, the Class 5 students who were leaving the classroom scrambled back to their seats.
*Clack-*
Halinde nodded contentedly, watching the students sit down instantly.
“The exam scoring results are out.”
Tension rose on the students’ faces.
“Ugh! I forgot about that.”
Karl buried his head in his desk, clutching his head.
Halinde looked at him and said.
“The student in our class who received a recommendation to withdraw is…”
*Gulp-*
Everyone swallowed dryly and focused on Halinde’s lips, anticipating the relentless announcement.
“No one.”
“Ooohhhhhhh!”
“Hooray! We survived!”
“With this, we can make it through the first semester!”
The students cheered.
Those whose grades were barely passing shed tears.
Cheers were heard not only from Class 5 but also from other classes.
“Shouting while I’m speaking. You’ve got some nerve.”
Silence immediately fell at Halinde’s single remark.
“Don’t get too excited. No one received a recommendation to withdraw, but many are on the edge. For those students, I have personally prepared a schedule for after-school supplementary classes.”
Afterward, Halinde called out the names of the students who had to attend supplementary classes.
The faces of those scheduled for supplementary classes turned pale.
“You don’t seem pleased.”
“We are pleased.”
“We’re happy enough to cry! Haha. Hahahahaha.”
“Finally, I have something to tell you.”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Sena.
“There will be a party tonight to celebrate the end of the midterms.”
At those words, the atmosphere in Class 5 grew excited.
“And at the party, we will set the schedule for the school trip, which will be in a week.”
Class 5 did not understand those words and wore blank expressions for a moment.
A short while later.
Cheers erupted from here and there.
“Ooohhh!”
Lumerne has a school trip once a year for each grade level.
Sometimes it’s by class, and sometimes it’s by department.
This time, it was by class, as Halinde explained.
“Our school has a surprisingly spontaneous side to it.”
“The school trip was already scheduled for the first-year curriculum.”
“It was scheduled, yes. But there was no exact date, right? And now, suddenly, it’s in a week.”
As Chelsea shook her head, Nella offered her characteristic languid smile.
“Hmph. Is it finally my turn to step up?”
Karl placed a hand on his chin, a smug expression on his face.
“What do you mean, your turn to step up?”
“I have a lot of connections, you know? I’ve already gotten to know the second and third-year seniors pretty well. I’ll go and find out what they do on the first-year school trip!”
“Hehe. Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Karl hurriedly left the classroom.
‘A school trip, huh.’
Leo rested his chin in his hand and looked out the window.
‘Now that I think about it, I haven’t explored much since being reborn.’
The places Leo had been to were limited to the Flob family estate, the family mansion in the capital of the Delard Kingdom, and the Lumerne Academy and Lumeria City.
This was in stark contrast to his previous life, where he had been wandering the world at this age.
Leo smiled, feeling a strange sense of anticipation for the trip.
***
“Where should we go for the school trip?”
“Whatever it is, I hope it’s a place where we can relax a bit.”
“But can’t we still have fun?”
That evening.
A party was held in the dormitory auditorium.
It was a celebration party for the end of the first midterms.
Moreover, with new departmental events announced, the overall atmosphere was one of excitement.
Of course, the mood wasn't entirely good.
This exam was also a farewell party for students who had received withdrawal recommendations.
“Our school has a subtly cruel side to it.”
Karl grumbled, dressed in a tuxedo befitting the party.
“Indeed.”
Tade nodded in agreement.
This party required all first-year students to attend.
That meant even students who had received withdrawal recommendations had to be there.
“It’s not quite survival of the fittest, but it’s an environment that constantly pushes you to look upwards.”
“Well, it’s a school for nurturing great heroes, so what can you do?”
Karl sighed and scratched his head at Tade’s murmur.
While the two were talking, students were continuously entering the dormitory auditorium.
Class 5 students also entered one by one and approached the Class 5 seating area.
Sometimes, male and female students entered together.
In such cases, students jokingly booed.
Karl, joining in the atmosphere, spotted two female students entering through the auditorium door and exclaimed in admiration.
“It’s Nella and Iliana.”
“Where! Where!”
Other Class 5 boys nearby also showed intense interest.
“Oh! As expected, Nella!”
“Iliana, too, is usually boisterous, but when she dresses up, she’s a beautiful girl!”
The boys exclaimed in admiration at the appearance of the two girls who represented the class.
Then, seeing boys from other classes approaching, they quickly moved.
“Hey! Hey! Bugs are swarming!”
“Go get them!”
The Class 5 boys rushed over.
“When will the class president arrive?”
“I want to see the class president in a tuxedo soon!”
“Nella~ Iliana~ Welcome.”
The girls also smiled brightly and welcomed the two.
When the auditorium was somewhat filled, two young men and women entered together.
Of course, the atmosphere was different from the earlier booing.
Two young people with light blue hair and eyes.
They were none other than Abard and Chelsea.
Siblings entering together, so booing was out of the question.
Moreover, even if they had entered separately, the individuals were too significant.
As the Rwalin siblings appeared, some Rodrean Empire students approached them.
“Seeing them like that, it really shows they’re a prominent family.”
Karl clicked his tongue in amazement.
Many Lumerne students come from distinguished hero families.
But in the case of the Rwalins, they possessed an influence that refused comparison with ordinary distinguished hero families.
“There’s another prominent figure who’s just as great.”
No sooner had Iliana finished speaking than another young man and woman appeared.
Again, there was no booing.
A contrasting appearance of black hair and white hair.
It was Leo and Celia.
“It’s the class president!”
“As expected, he looks cool!”
The Class 5 girls cheered.
“Usually, she’s, what’s the word… dignified, but she definitely looks pretty dressed like that.”
“Celia! You’re beautiful!”
From Class 1, cheers erupted from both boys and girls.
The usually dignified and confident Celia was popular with both genders.
With her beautifully adorned in a red dress, the atmosphere couldn’t help but be fervent.
“But why is it the vice president of Class 1 of all people?!”
“But why is it the class president of Class 5 of all people?!”
The two classes, who simultaneously burst out with the same complaints, glared at each other.
Halinde and Sedjen.
The rivalry between these two professors, who had high reputations in Lumerne, was already famous.
Of course, it was Sedjen's unilateral declaration of rivalry, but thanks to it, Class 5 and Class 1 inadvertently developed a sense of rivalry.
As Celia appeared, Rodrean Empire students again rushed over.
As the Rodrean Empire students gathered, Leo naturally slipped away and came to where Class 5 was.
“Why are you here already? Chelsea is over there talking.”
Karl asked with a puzzled face, and Leo shrugged.
“It’s not my place to join in.”
“Not your place to join in? Aren’t all of them from the Western exam?”
Iliana asked with a fork in her mouth, and Leo chuckled.
“Even if they’re from the West, they’re all from the Rodrean Empire. My country is different.”
“Ah-ha!”
Most of the Western entrance exam participants are students from the Rodrean Empire.
Since the Rodrean Empire itself is a vast empire encompassing the entire West, it couldn't be helped.
“Class President! You’ll dance with me during dance time later, won’t you?”
“You have to dance with me too~”
“Leo, you bastard!”
“You have good grades and you’re popular too?”
As the Class 5 girls smiled and spoke to Leo, the boys grabbed him and shook him vigorously.
“Hehe. Everyone is lively, I see.”
“Oh! Vice Professor Sena!”
Sena, the assistant homeroom teacher, approached where Class 5 was, smiling.
“I’m so happy that no one in our class received a withdrawal recommendation. Let’s continue to study hard!”
Seeing Sena’s bright smile, the students made touched expressions.
To the Class 5 students, who always received Halinde’s sharp and fierce education, Sena was like an oasis in the desert.
As the boisterous atmosphere continued, the lights in the auditorium went out.
At the same time, two people appeared on the stage.
“Hello, everyone!”
At the appearance of Halinde and Artian, the homeroom teachers of Class 5 and Class 8, known as the terror of the first-year students, the boisterous party hall suddenly fell silent.
“Why, what’s wrong with you all? Parties are meant to be fun, so you don’t have to be quiet.”
Despite his words, the students did not easily start talking.
It was then that Artian put on a tearful face.
Professor Halinde spoke into the microphone.
“Enjoy yourselves, while I’m speaking nicely.”
“Whoaaahh.”
“It’s so, so much fun.”
“Hahaha.”
As if nothing had happened, the students started to make noise.
Artian spoke, looking at the students who had become noisy again.
“Please listen while you enjoy yourselves. We will now announce the academic results.”
‘No! You told us to enjoy ourselves!’
‘Why are you announcing the grades in public?!’
“First, we will announce the top three students in major subjects for each department. After that, we will announce the year representative.”
Professor Artian smiled widely.
“Also, the overall rankings will be posted in various places throughout the party hall, so please check them.”
Assistant professors were seen bringing in covered bulletin boards.
Finally, Halinde added.
“And this is a place to comfort the students who are leaving. Keep that in mind.”
The party atmosphere grew chilly.
“Cruel. It’s cruel. This school really knows how to motivate students, anyway.”
Karl clicked his tongue.
To announce outstanding students at a gathering meant to comfort those who had received withdrawal recommendations.
This was a kind of message to the middle-ranking students.
Two messages: that they should strive to climb higher, and that they too could end up like that at any time.
“Then, I will announce the top students for each department. First, for the Knight Department. The first place in the Knight Department is.”
A drumroll sounded, and spotlights in the party hall began to move around.
“Student Celia Gerdinger from Class 1! Congratulations!”
The spotlights all shone on Celia.
“Now, everyone, applause!”
*Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap-*
A round of applause erupted.
Celia swept her hair back and smiled sweetly.
Her confident demeanor was very much like Celia.
“Next, second place is Duran Moira from Class 1!”
Spotlights shone on Duran, who had his arms crossed, but he frowned as if displeased.
“Elegant! So elegant! Student Celia! Student Duran! I am so proud of you both! Literally, first and second place were separated by a single sheet of paper!”
Professor Sedjen, below the stage, cried and clapped.
“Third place is Chen Xia from Class 10!”
Chen Xia, wearing a traditional costume with the wide and graceful elegance characteristic of the Eastern region, smiled sweetly as she received the spotlight with her hands tucked into her sleeves.
“Ugh-! Brother Leo didn’t make it into the top 3!”
“It can’t be helped. Those three are what the Knight Department kids call the ‘Monster Trio’.”
As Chelsea clenched her fists in frustration, Iliana shook her head.
“Next is the Magic Department. First place in the Magic Department is… Student Abard Rwalin from Class 8! Abard! Congratulations!”
Artian smiled brightly and waved his hand as his student took first place.
“Isn’t that obvious!”
Chelsea snorted, crossed her arms, and looked triumphant.
“Second place is Student Chelsea Rwalin from Class 5!”
Then, as the spotlight shone on her, she looked a little flustered.
“Oh, me?”
“Third place is Student Emio Luchan from Class 2. Congratulations.”
After the announcement for the Magic Department, a strange atmosphere filled the entire party hall.
Everyone was focused on one student.
“Chloe’s practical exam being graded as 0 points really made a difference, huh.”
Karl muttered bitterly.
“Keuk! Student Chloe! Originally! Originally, Student Chloe would have been first place…! Keuk! Don’t you ever get frustrated or discouraged!”
“Quiet, you’re disrupting the announcement. Take him away.”
Halinde coldly gestured with his chin, seeing Sedjen sobbing mournfully.
Several assistant professors hurriedly helped Sedjen and led him away.
The Class 1 students also looked disheartened.
As Chloe gave a bitter smile, Duran snorted and approached her.
“Chloe Müller. You are a disgrace to the entire class.”
“I’m sorry, Duran.”
“You beat me and became the class president. Therefore, I will not tolerate any further embarrassment. If you disappoint me again, I will take the class president position.”
Having said that, Duran abruptly left.
Karl, watching him, muttered.
“The moment that rude guy said that, the necklace of success was handed to Chloe…”
In fact, besides Duran, all the Class 1 students comforted Chloe.
It showed Chloe’s popularity as a class president.
“Next is the Summoning Department! First place in the Summoning Department is Student Woredon Tiden from Class 2!”
The spotlight poured down, but Woredon merely maintained a expressionless face.
“Following that, second place is Student Eliza Hergin from Class 6! Again, it was a very close call.”
Eliza, sitting elegantly on a soft chair that appeared from somewhere, was filing her nails.
But unlike her usual relaxed face, she was glaring at Woredon with a slightly annoyed expression.
Third place was taken by Juredon Rusen from Class 8.
“I thought Leo would definitely be in the top 3 for at least one of the three subjects.”
Iliana said in surprise, and Leo shrugged.
“It could happen.”
“Aren’t you being too relaxed? If you don’t make it into the top 3 in a departmental subject, then being the year representative is out of the question!”
“Then, next, I will announce the valedictorian of the midterm exam. The year representative.”
Tension filled the air at those words.
As everyone focused on the nine students, Artian opened his mouth.
“First place in the midterm exam! It’s Student Leo Flob!”