Book 1 Chapter 639
“Wow, I knew he was strong, but he’s truly suffocatingly strong?”
Roonba of the Summoning Department, who always provides commentary at events in Lumen, made a look of disgust.
Several students nodded in agreement.
“Niel, does the student council president have any weaknesses?”
A fifth-year female student from the Knight Department asked with a frustrated expression.
As a retainer family of Zerdinger, Niel knows Leo best among them.
Niel sighed at his fellow student’s question.
“Young Master Leo has no weaknesses.”
Dual-class users utilize two abilities to compensate for each other’s weaknesses.
But Leo is an all-class.
He can compensate for the weaknesses of all classes, so he has no distinct weaknesses.
‘Besides, even if you look at each class individually, he’s among the strongest in the school…’
As a knight, as a mage, as a summoner.
Even if you consider each class separately, he is among the strongest students at Lumen.
No matter how experienced a fifth-year student at Lumen is, it’s not easy to find a weakness in someone like that.
Just as the fifth-year students looked at a loss at Niel’s words.
“You’re a retainer, yet you grovel before your juniors, and you don’t even know the weakness of the family you serve? Or are you hiding it because you’re a retainer?”
A sarcastic voice was heard.
Niel’s cold gaze turned towards the source of the voice.
Standing there was Takon, a fifth-year student from the Knight Department.
Roonba chuckled inwardly at Takon’s reaction.
‘Ah, it’s going sour, just as expected.’
Takon Sejir.
He was a student who never lost his top spot in the Knight Department among his peers.
‘No, he *was* a student who never lost his top spot.’
Takon, who had maintained first place in the Knight Department for four years.
However, in the final exams of the second semester of his fourth year, he lost his first place in the Knight Department to Niel.
Niel had been at the top since his admission, but before his fourth year, he had a slight deficiency that made it difficult to compete for first place.
However, starting from his fourth year, he began to show tremendous growth, and by the end of the semester, he finally secured the first place.
‘Actually, it’s not that strange.’
Lumen is a place where the best talents gather and develop their abilities.
‘By the fourth year, they are the cream of the crop.’
So, it’s not strange for their rankings to change at any time.
But for Takon, it’s unacceptable.
‘That darn factional strife.’
Roonba scratched his head.
Factions exist in every grade.
Broadly, factions arise based on departments, continental regions, or the interests of various countries.
On a smaller scale, even power struggles within a grade.
It can’t be helped.
Many students from influential families enroll in Lumen.
However, as they move up in grades, the conflicts between factions tend to be mended.
‘Well, whether they realize it or not, a hierarchy is established… In any case, they are comrades who have gone through thick and thin together. Although, very rarely, there are people who remain sworn enemies for life.’
By attending the school together for a long time, they inevitably have to rely on each other.
Comradeship can be born even if it wasn’t there before.
But…
‘Our grade is the opposite.’
The current fifth-year students are divided into two.
One side is the regular students led by Niel, and the other side is Blue Moon.
Those who belonged to Blue Moon, the party that conquered the Hero Dungeon led by Elena.
‘The Queen’s followers.’
The Blue Moon party was disbanded in their fourth year.
To be precise, Elena stopped her overreach.
The daughter of the principal and acting principal.
Before that, Elena, who, with her overwhelming talent, stood shoulder to shoulder with the top students of the fifth grade even in her second year.
Because of that, she used her position as acting principal to gain all sorts of favors.
A true delinquent, so to speak.
The Queen’s followers enjoyed all sorts of favors by Elena’s side.
‘Of course, the hangers-on who simply wanted to enjoy privileges and fawned over her were all expelled.’
Lumen is not so lenient that such people can endure.
‘The problem is that the ones who remain are the true followers.’
They want only one thing.
To be recognized by Elena.
Since her first year, Elena had never acknowledged any of her classmates as her equal.
To be precise, she never recognized them as comrades.
It was only natural.
‘Their levels are different.’
She’s not called the Queen for nothing.
Elena has ruled thoroughly.
Therefore, Elena’s followers want to be recognized as comrades.
To others, it may not seem like a big deal.
Elena never looked down on her classmates.
On the contrary, they often laughed and joked with each other.
But that’s where it ends.
She never allowed anything more.
They couldn’t stand by her side.
For those who had been with Elena, it must have been maddening.
‘That’s probably why they survived so desperately in Lumen.’
In such a situation, Takon reacted sharply when he lost his first place in the Knight Department.
Even when he was first, he was not in her sights, and now that he had fallen to second place, the anxiety of whether she would acknowledge him made him impatient.
The spark that flew between Niel and Takon was a signal flare.
Students who were not part of Blue Moon couldn’t help but have feelings towards the perpetually sensitive Blue Moon students who were obsessed with grades.
Students not affiliated with Blue Moon were not interested in factions at first.
However, since the other party was always on guard, those who weren’t on guard naturally united, forming a faction.
“What are you saying?”
A female student from the Magic Department raised her eyebrows.
Then, a female student from the Magic Department belonging to Blue Moon sneered.
“What? It’s true that Niel would think more about his family in this situation, right? He’s a loyal subordinate.”
“Like you, Elena’s lapdogs?”
“What did you just say?”
The atmosphere grew increasingly hostile.
Seeing this, Roonba, who couldn’t stand it, intervened amicably.
“Hey, hey. Stop fighting. Aren’t you embarrassed in front of your juniors?”
“You stay out of it, Roonba!”
“We need to settle this today. You, a third party, shouldn’t interfere.”
Despite Roonba’s pleas, their anger showed no signs of subsiding.
Seeing this, the smile disappeared from Roonba’s lips.
“Do you not think my words make sense?”
The cold voice, completely opposite to his usual playful demeanor, made not only the fifth-year students but also the fourth-year students flinch.
Roonba, who looked at his classmates with a blank expression, spoke after a moment with a smile as warm as spring.
“For now, countermeasures against Leo are the priority.”
It would be decided at the end of the semester who would graduate as the top student in the Knight Department, but who would graduate as the runner-up among their peers had been decided since their first year.
Roonba Tes.
He was the undisputed second place, having even taken the grade representative position, surpassing Elena Jeron.
‘Well, it was possible because that Elena girl threw away a whole semester because she didn’t want to study.’
“For now, Takon, you take command.”
“…Understood.”
“The strategy… Eren. I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, senior.”
Roonba entrusted the role of staff officer to Eren, who had the best strategic planning ability among the fourth-year students.
No student complained.
‘Why would anyone complain? I’ve been providing commentary for years.’
He knows the students like the back of his hand.
Takon and Eren are the students with the best command and strategic planning abilities among the fourth and fifth-year students when facing strong opponents.
Having assigned a commander and staff officer, Roonba selected a few more students.
“You guys are the reconnaissance team. Follow me.”
“Yes, senior.”
Roonba led the fourth-year students with excellent reconnaissance skills to prepare for Leo’s attack.
After the juniors dispersed, Roonba was left alone and sank into thought.
After a moment, Roonba nodded.
“I understand the professors’ intentions.”
Even if the fifth-year students don’t admit it.
Roonba clearly saw what their problem was.
“The problem is that when Elena is absent, they completely fall apart.”
Roonba sighed inwardly.
‘And the fourth-year students.’
The current fourth-year students, one year younger, have been manipulated by the fifth-year students for four years.
Elena’s charisma extended beyond the third-year students to the second-year students.
The problem is that the students one year younger are now clearly upperclassmen.
‘They won’t just blindly follow whatever we say.’
They are old enough to think for themselves.
Moreover, there will be resentment for being constantly manipulated.
‘If things go wrong, the fourth and fifth-year students will split.’
If Lil were here, she would have managed the situation, but unfortunately, Lil is also absent.
Roonba scratched his head.
“Haa, if only I were a little more capable, would it have been a little better?”
Although Roonba is academically excellent, has a good personality, and is sociable, he unfortunately lacks the capacity to lead others.
Roonba himself knew this fact best.
‘First, I need to share the professors’ intentions with the others…’
“It might have been a little better. Of course, the fundamental problem wouldn’t have been solved.”
“Haha, student council president. When did you get here?”
“Since when the senior figured out the professors’ intentions.”
Leo smiled broadly.
Seeing that smile, Roonba felt goosebumps all over his body.
‘There’s no… loophole, is there?’
No matter how much of a runner-up Roonba was among the fifth-year students.
His opponent was Leo.
‘It would have been different if it were Elena or Lil.’
Until two years ago, the runner-up of the fifth year was the second person in Lumen.
But from last year, that formula was broken.
The strongest position in Lumen was taken by a second-year student.
The appearance of an irregular named Leo Flov.
However, even without Leo, Roonba wouldn’t have become the second person in Lumen.
It’s because of Lil, who is one year younger.
‘At least I can be thankful that thanks to Leo, I’m less embarrassed.’
Roonba burst into laughter.
Leo looked at Roonba and said.
“Senior, you seem quite unmotivated.”
Roonba chuckled at Leo’s words.
He didn’t feel offended at all.
Leo didn’t say it to mock him.
It was literally about his lack of motivation.
It’s what the professors, the seniors, and even his junior classmates say.
“Live long and prosper. That’s my motto in life.”
It was exactly as he said.
The reason why he, despite being second in his grade, doesn’t leave a significant mark on his school life.
It’s because he strictly seeks the easy path.
Leo nodded.
There are all kinds of people.
However.
“Despite that, you are putting in a lot of effort.”
At Leo’s broad smile, Roonba flinched.
‘I’ve been found out!’
Roonba, who had secretly informed the fifth-year students of Leo’s appearance using spirit summoning, swallowed dryly.
“Either way, I was planning to crush you head-on, so it doesn’t matter.”
“As expected of the student council president. You’re so magnanimous.”
Roonba laughed heartily.
‘I wish I could be this bold too.’
He was frustrated once when he saw Elena in his first year, but he challenged her with enthusiasm.
However, when he saw Lil enroll in his second year, he cleanly gave up.
He felt too insignificant to achieve what he dreamed of.
‘Even though he’s a junior, he’s a truly cool guy.’
It was when Roonba was smiling brightly at Leo.
“Smiling?”
“Huh?”
“Do you find the current situation funny?”
Roonba froze at the sudden question.
This was the pattern of the graduated seniors when they used to pick on him.
“Hey. No matter what, I’m your senior, aren’t I?”
“Senior or not, others can’t even get the abilities they want, yet here are guys with those abilities who are even more amazing than me, so do you think it makes sense for me to just stand by and watch? Why did you come to Lumen?”
The atmosphere was serious.
This was beyond seniors picking on him.
It was on the level of professors.
Among them, the most terrifying was Halind.
“I wondered why you always stayed out of competitions and just did commentary, but this was it? I’m trying to wake up the seniors who are not paying attention, but their minds are completely rotten! Come here. I’ll fix that rotten mindset for you.”
“Heeeeeek?”
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
Seeing Leo charging at him with his eyes blazing, Roonba was terrified and ran away.
He didn’t know why Leo suddenly lost it, but one thing was certain.
If he got caught now, it would be a disaster.
“It’s Leo!”
“Form ranks according to the plan!”
“Kuhuhuhuhuh!”
Another howl erupted.
The fight between Leo and the fourth and fifth-year students officially began.