Book 1 Chapter 80

【80】79.

The next day, before the excitement and exhaustion of the school trip had completely worn off.

Lumern's departmental schedule proceeded as usual.

Most first-year students attended classes in a daze, unable to adapt to the atmosphere.

Amidst this, as the last class before lunch was nearing its end.

"Everyone, pay attention, I have something to convey."

Professor Dragon, the history professor, drew the students' attention.

As the students focused, Professor Dragon opened his mouth.

"Today's afternoon class schedule has been changed. A joint major class will be held, so gather at the grand auditorium of the Tower of Heroes after lunch. There are no exceptions."

Professor Dragon left, and the students began to murmur.

"Joint major class? We've never had a joint major class before, have we?"

Kyle stroked his chin.

"Doesn't it smell like a new departmental event?"

Leo said, looking at Kyle, who was grinning.

"Probably. Our school never leaves students alone."

"Leo Oppa! Let's have lunch at a cafe near the Tower of Heroes today!"

"Shall we?"

"Chelsea! Abbad is looking for you."

"Huh?"

Chelsea approached Abbad at the sound of a voice from the back door of the classroom.

A moment later, Chelsea returned and said apologetically.

"Sorry, I think I'll have to eat lunch with my brother."

"Alright. Have a good time with your brother."

"Have a good lunch."

As Chelsea went to have lunch with Abbad, Kyle said.

"Well, shall we move towards the Tower of Heroes? It's a bit burdensome with all the seniors over there."

The two left the classroom building and headed for the Tower of Heroes.

The Lumern school grounds had a variety of cafes, snack bars, and restaurants in addition to the student cafeteria.

Of course, unlike the student cafeteria, they had to pay, but there were no bad places, and students often frequented them to enjoy various dishes.

"I heard that it's incredibly competitive to get a spot at our school."

Kyle said, looking at the restaurants around the Tower of Heroes.

"Leo, how about Southern cuisine today?"

"Sounds good."

"Great! Actually, I heard there's a really delicious Southern restaurant near the Tower of Heroes, and I wanted to try it!"

Leo followed Kyle to the famous restaurant.

Indeed, as Kyle said, it was packed with customers.

Just then, there was one empty seat, and Leo and Kyle were about to go for it.

"Excuse me."

"Oh?"

At that moment, a group of students cut in front and quickly sat down.

"Excuse me. We were about to sit there first."

"Huh?"

At Leo's words, the students' eyes widened, and they burst into laughter.

"What is this first-year talking about?"

"Is he trying to defy us? How cute."

"Wait, white hair and red eyes… isn't this Leo Flobe?"

The ones who cut in were none other than second-year students from the Department of Summoning.

Compared to other departments, the Department of Summoning had a strong hierarchy among its cohorts, and the second-year students had been looking down on Leo, who didn't even show his face to his seniors during summoning classes.

Of course, Leo was not one to bat an eye at how his seniors viewed him.

"He's as arrogant as the rumors say."

"What? Do you think being a class representative makes you special?"

Kyle laughed awkwardly, looking at the second-year students who were exuding a hostile atmosphere.

"Haha. No, no. We'll just go eat somewhere else. Let's go, Leo."

"Anyway, this is why country bumpkins and commoners are no good, right? No manners. No manners."

"Haha."

Kyle forced a good-natured laugh.

"Leo, let's just go. There's nothing good about having trouble with seniors for no reason…"

Thud-!

"Ugh?"

Crash-!

A second-year student from the Department of Summoning tripped Kyle.

He deliberately knocked Kyle over, and then poured water from a water pitcher on the table onto Kyle's head.

"You'd better watch your step too. You could end up like your friend."

"Hey, that was too much. He's from another department."

"Do you think students from the Department of Magic would care about an unknown commoner like that? He's probably going to drop out before the first semester is even over anyway."

They chuckled among themselves.

"Excuse me."

Leo paused his serving, gave an apologetic smile to the hesitant waiter, and picked up a bowl of soup from the tray the waiter was holding.

Splat-!

"Ugh?"

And without hesitation, he plunged the hot bowl of soup into the face of the second-year student who had tripped Kyle.

"Oh, I'm sorry. My hand slipped."

Leo said with a completely unremorseful expression, rubbing the soup bowl on the second-year's face.

"Aaahhh!"

The second-year student, suddenly doused in hot soup, clutched his face and screamed.

"Are you crazy!"

"How dare a first-year defy a senior!"

Sparks flew in the eyes of the other second-year students.

"Defiance isn't exactly against school rules, is it?"

Leo said with a chilling smile.

Suddenly, the second-year students, overwhelmed by Leo's intensity, flinched.

But soon, perhaps hurt by their pride, their faces turned red.

"Come outside. I'll make you pay dearly for daring to pick a fight with a second-year!"

The atmosphere was becoming hostile.

"That's enough."

Everyone's gaze turned to the corner of the restaurant.

The second-year students who had been bothering Leo hurriedly stood at attention.

"U-Ulta Senior!"

He was a pale-skinned, light-haired, pale fifth-year male student.

Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he looked at the second-year students and said.

"You guys started the fight, didn't you? If you make any more noise, as a departmental senior, I can't just watch. So, couldn't you just stop there?"

"Hmph! Yes, yes! Of course!"

"Understood!"

"Sorry. Let's just drop it."

The second-year students from the Department of Summoning, having changed their stance, quickly apologized and hurriedly left the restaurant.

Ulta stood up and approached Kyle, helping him to his feet.

"On behalf of the Department of Summoning, I apologize. I'm sorry."

"It's nothing."

Kyle gave an awkward smile and shook his head.

Ulta looked at Leo one last time.

"I'm sorry for butting in. No matter how bad they are, it would break my heart to see my juniors getting beaten up by a first-year, so I interfered."

Ulta gave a meaningful smile and then left the restaurant.

"Who was that?"

"You don't know Ulta Regdition? He's the second-place student in the fifth year, isn't he? The guy who's been rivals with Rhys Gerdinger for five years! I heard he was out on a mission, when did he get back?"

Kyle said in an excited tone.

Leo chuckled when he heard that.

'Indeed. If he's the second-place student in the fifth year, it makes sense that he's the contractor for Pegasus.'

Ulta was the contractor for Pegasus, one of the three great mythical beasts, along with Phoenix and Fairies.

***

As Leo headed to the grand auditorium of the Tower of Heroes after lunch, Celia approached him.

"Leo."

"Hi, Celia. Did you have a good school trip?"

"Of course."

At Leo's question, Celia swept back her hair and chuckled, "Hmph-."

"I swept away the bandits who were committing illegal acts in the Elf territory."

Celia, who had been speaking proudly with her chest puffed out, narrowed her eyes.

"Well, it was a minor affair compared to your Class 5."

As the fact that Class 5 had a joint class with Seyrune on the school trip became known, Class 5 became the object of envy for all first-year students.

"You even met Seyrune's first-year class representative there, right? How was she?"

Celia, who knew that Lunia, Seyrune's first-year representative, was from the Rundar family who wielded the power of the Phoenix, showed great curiosity.

"She was fierce."

Kyle chuckled beside him and answered.

"An elf fierce? I can't picture that."

Celia made a curious expression.

It was while they were talking about the school trip.

Teaching assistants entered the grand auditorium.

"Alright! Everyone! Gather by department!"

The students looked puzzled at the teaching assistants' words.

"Are we gathering by department, not by class?"

"Yes. Preparations for the departmental competition begin today."

"……!"

"……!"

The first-year students' expressions changed drastically.

The Departmental Competition!

Lumern selects the best department for each year annually.

As the pride of the department was at stake, the departmental competition always showed fierce competition, regardless of the year.

"Leo! Come here!"

Celia grabbed Leo's hand.

"Hey! Wait! Why are you taking Leo?"

Kyle hastily grabbed Leo.

"Why am I taking him? Leo is in the Department of Knights, isn't he?"

"Why is Leo in the Department of Knights? Strictly speaking, he's closer to the Department of Magic! You heard that Leo deciphered the magic of the progenitor of the Nebula during this school trip, didn't you?"

"What do I care?"

Just then, Chelsea quickly rushed over.

"Why are you taking Leo Oppa without permission!"

"You know where Leo's maternal family is, right?"

"Even so, that doesn't make Leo Oppa a Gerdinger, does it?"

For the first time in a while, sparks flew between Celia and Chelsea.

Meanwhile, everyone's attention was focused on Leo.

'Leo Flobe…'

'A powerful asset demonstrating top-tier skill in all of the Knight, Magic, and Summoning departments…'

'We have to get him no matter what!'

A war of nerves was unfolding between the departments over Leo's whereabouts.

"Young master Leo is clearly in the Department of Knights, anyone can see that, right?"

"That's just what the Department of Knights claims."

Chen Xia said with a smile, but Chloe shook her head.

"Leo Flobe. If you're my rival, then act like a rival and join the Department of Knights."

"Since when was Leo Oppa your rival?"

Chelsea snorted when Duran spoke in an authoritative voice.

"Forget all that, Leo is in the same department as me!"

"The Department of Knights already has three top-scoring students, including you, Chen Xia, and Duran, doesn't it? I think it's unfair to have the class representative join as well."

"I don't think the Department of Magic, which has two top-scoring students, should be talking! Woleden! You say something too!"

Celia, Abbad, and Eliza snapped at Woleden, who was standing by indifferently.

"Leo! Choose! Which department will you go to!"

Ultimately, Celia left the choice to Leo.

Hearing that, Leo said indifferently.

"The solution is simple."

***

The first-year students finished gathering by department.

Amidst the commotion in the grand auditorium, three people appeared on the stage.

"Wait, isn't that Senior Torua?"

"Is that Senior Zamua?"

"Ah! It's Senior Ulta!"

The top students of each department in the fifth year.

They were indeed true hero candidates, close to being heroes themselves.

The entire first-year class was filled with excitement at the appearance of such prominent figures, who were usually difficult to see.

Meanwhile, Torua noticed something.

The first-year students were currently divided into four large sections.

The Department of Knights, the Department of Magic, the Department of Summoning, and then, completely alone, occupying a large section by himself…

"Hey, Leo. Why are you being left out alone?"

"Please correct yourself, Senior Torua."

Leo chuckled.

"I'm leaving out the entire year."