Book 1 Chapter 84
“Does that make sense?”
“It’s not like… some level of aura amplification?”
All the students looked at Leo with bored expressions.
‘Leo Floob…!’
Duran gritted his teeth, and Celia felt goosebumps all over her body.
‘Is that Leo’s flame?’
Everyone was surprised, but the most surprised was Leo himself.
‘This is way too effective!’
Leo had been freely using Aron’s breathing techniques, but since they were beastman techniques, there were parts that didn’t suit him.
Because of that, the actual aura amplification effect was lacking compared to Aron.
In such a situation, this was the result of adapting the breathing technique to himself based on the breathing method Aron taught him.
Sizzle-!
Smoke rose from his hand as if it were cooling down.
He had gotten burns even when drawing out more firepower than his limit before.
‘This is like my arm is completely burned.’
Leo endured the pain and put away his sword.
“Awesome!”
“Hey! Leo, how did you do that? Do you have a trick?”
“Teach me too!”
It was when the knight students excitedly asked him in turn.
Thump- thump-
Aron, who approached quickly, frowned as he checked Leo’s arm.
“Nella. Come and heal Leo’s hand.”
“Yes? Ah! Yes!”
Nella, who had healing aura, rushed over.
“I’m going to the infirmary, so you guys practice on your own.”
***
“It’s way more effective than I thought.”
“You’re laughing even though your arm is like this?”
Nella glared at Leo as he let out a hollow laugh in the infirmary.
Nella used her healing aura to treat the burns on Leo’s arm.
“Thanks, Nella. Your skills have improved.”
“It’s not completely healed. I just did first aid, so get proper treatment at the infirmary.”
“You worked hard, Nella.”
“Not at all. This is my job too.”
Nella shook her head and gave her characteristic languid smile.
“Leo.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Did you know ‘Breath of the Hero’ from before?”
Nella was surprised by the sharp question, and Leo inwardly smiled meaningfully.
‘You saw through that after just one look?’
“Yes.”
“Where did you learn it?”
“I saw it in a book when I was young.”
“Did you learn it through self-study?”
“Yes.”
“And you arbitrarily modified the technique based on what I taught you today?”
“That’s right.”
Seeing Leo say it so calmly, Aron felt cold sweat run down his back.
‘Truly, he’s someone whose depths are unfathomable. It’s surprising enough that he learned the Breath of the Hero, which humans cannot normally use, through self-study, but to modify it to suit himself again.’
“Was the backlash from aura amplification a pre-existing problem?”
“Yes. It wasn’t this bad, though.”
The effect of the newly modified breathing was so outstanding that the backlash also increased.
“Did the aura not manifest with the method I taught you?”
“That’s right.”
“It seems your aura operation method is similar to that of beastmen. That’s why adapting it for humans actually didn’t suit you.”
As Aron said, the first person to teach him aura back in his Kyle days was a beastman mercenary.
Normally, he wouldn’t have been able to learn properly, but thanks to Kyle’s talent and sense, he learned without much difficulty.
‘As expected of a Lumern professor. He quickly identifies the problem.’
“Leo.”
“Yes.”
“It would be best for you not to use ‘Breath of the Hero’ from now on.”
“Is it because of the side effects?”
“Yes. It’s not good for you to exert power to the point of injuring yourself.”
Aron sighed deeply.
“I know someone who lost their power because they overexerted themselves.”
Seeing Aron muttering bitterly, Leo said,
“I’ll try to control myself, but I can’t make any promises.”
Leo grinned.
“Surpass your limits. Isn’t that our school’s motto?”
Aron looked into Leo’s eyes.
‘It’s not simple recklessness.’
Leo’s eyes were like those of someone who had overcome all sorts of hardships.
Aron, unable to stop himself, burst into laughter and said,
“If you’re that confident, I expect you to show me the results.”
***
After the Knight Department class ended.
Leo immediately headed to the Magic Department class.
Today was a practical class day, so he headed to the magic practice area, not the classroom building.
As Leo left the training ground, he bumped into a female student.
“Chloe? What are you doing in the classroom building at this hour?”
“I forgot something in the classroom, so I just stopped by for a moment.”
Chloe, who was carrying two thick magic books as usual, approached.
“Are you done with your Knight Department class?”
“Yes. That’s good. Let’s go together.”
“S-shall we?”
‘Hooa! It’s been a while since I walked with Leo alone!’
Feeling a slight tension for some reason, Chloe took a deep breath.
‘Chloe! Don’t be nervous! What’s so great about walking with Leo that you’re nervous!’
As the real Chloe was walking, Leo asked,
“Don’t those two weigh a lot? Give me one, I’ll carry it for you.”
“They are heavy, but will you be okay?”
“Heavy? Not at all.”
“Then I won’t refuse.”
As he handed over a magic book with a smile, their hands brushed.
‘Uaah! Our hands touched!’
Chloe, her face turning red, turned her head in embarrassment.
‘Ow! Seriously! Why am I acting like a fool! The more I’m conscious of it, the more I tremble!’
Chloe, groaning, clenched her fists.
‘Right! I’ll break this awkward atmosphere by having a casual conversation!’
“The weather is nice today, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s quite hot.”
“……”
As Leo frowned, squinting at the strong sunlight and looking up at the sky, Chloe hit her forehead with her magic book.
‘Why did I bring up the weather!’
Feeling the atmosphere become even more awkward, Chloe was flustered.
“The atmosphere is nice, juniors.”
Chloe was startled by the voice from behind and looked back.
There was Toru, lying on his stomach on a flying carpet.
“T-Toru senpai?”
“Hello, Chloe-kun.”
“Do you know me?”
“Of course, Chloe Muller-kun! This senpai remembers the names of outstanding juniors.”
“It’s an honor!”
“Mhm! As I thought, you are a good junior.”
Toru smiled brightly and reached out to stroke Chloe’s head.
“Compared to a cute junior like Chloe-kun, Leo-kun you…”
Toru had a very displeased expression.
‘What is it? Does he dislike Leo?’
Chloe tensed slightly at the unusual atmosphere.
“When do you plan to come to the Magic Department? You’re always in between, so you get bullied, you know.”
“I told you I’m the one bullying the entire grade.”
“Don’t you have friends?”
“No, I have plenty. I’m close with Chloe right now.”
Chloe smiled awkwardly, watching the two bicker.
“Toru senpai. You seem close with Leo.”
“Yes. Of course, he’s a junior in the Magic Department.”
“Who said I’m in the Magic Department?”
“You.”
“Isn’t forcing a department a violation of school rules? My homeroom teacher happens to be Professor Halind.”
“Tsk. Clever boy.”
Toru clicked his tongue.
Even the unrestrained Toru was no more than a weak student in front of Halind.
“By the way, I heard you interpreted the magic of the Celestial Ancestor this time? How did you do it? I tried to interpret it too, but I gave up halfway.”
“I want to hear about that too. It’s a famous magic formula, so the Magic Tower has been researching it for a long time.”
“Chloe-kun, you’re from the Northern Magic Tower, right? I saw the Northern magic interpretation, and it was different from the South, which I found interesting. Would you like to discuss it?”
“Okay!”
“Yes, yes. That’s how a mage should be. Here, get on.”
Toru, who willingly offered the flying carpet, and Chloe excitedly chattered about magic.
Since both had immense intellectual curiosity, they communicated very well.
‘Mages never change, whether it’s now or in the past.’
As they were lost in conversation, the two realized they were almost at the practice location.
“Hmm. We arrived without even hearing Leo-kun’s interpretation. So, what kind of magic was it? The Seirun Society hasn’t announced it yet, so this senpai is dying of curiosity, junior.”
Toru poked Leo in the side with his magic staff.
Chloe also looked at Leo with shining eyes, curious.
Seeing that, Leo conjured magic from his hand.
Toru and Chloe blinked blankly, seeing a single flower bloom from Leo’s hand.
“It was magic that creates flowers.”
Leo smiled, handed the flower and magic book to Chloe, and entered the practice area.
“Unexpectedly, he has a way of hitting hard, doesn’t he?”
Toru chuckled, looking at Chloe, whose ears had turned red, and winked.
“Good luck, my cute junior.”
***
The Magic Department students gathered in the practice area all had tense expressions.
The reason was none other than Toru, who could be considered a great senior.
“Leo oppa. Did Jamua senpai come to the Knight Department class?”
“No. He didn’t come today.”
While Chelsea made a puzzled expression.
“It’s quite hot today. Like southern weather.”
Toru, who was on the magic carpet, grumbled softly.
Hearing that, Kal quickly stepped forward.
“I have a parasol here! Senpai!”
“Huh?”
“And have some orange juice here.”
Kal, who made shade with the parasol, took out orange juice from his pocket and offered it to Toru.
“You’re well-prepared.”
Toru, with an appreciative look, brought the straw to his lips.
Then Kal rubbed his hands and said,
“It’s 5 silver.”
“Here.”
Toru smiled faintly, as if he had expected it, and willingly paid for the paid service.
“I sometimes really envy Kal’s shamelessness.”
Chelsea said, crossing her arms, and Leo chuckled when Toru tilted his head.
“Hmm. Still, something is lacking? Chelsea-kun, could you come here for a moment?”
“Me?”
Chelsea approached Toru.
“Could you make some cool breeze?”
“Yes?”
“Here, 5 silver.”
Ding~
Chelsea, with a reluctant expression, snatched the 5 silver flying into her palm.
“This is for your errand. Now, hurry and make a cool breeze.”
Chelsea had no choice but to create a cool breeze.
After that, Toru started ordering the juniors around indiscriminately by throwing around 5 silvers.
“I couldn’t carelessly order around the first-year students because of guilt, but by paying for errands like this, I can order them around without hesitation.”
Everyone glared at Kal at Toru’s words, who had a satisfied smile.
‘It’s all your fault that it turned out like this!’
As a magic student, they refused to waste their magic in the scorching sun.
Kal turned his head with a guilty expression.
Toru’s requests became increasingly bizarre.
He asked them to draw inexplicable magic circles on the ground or create statues of strange shapes.
As Toru, who was considered one of the most eccentric students in the entire grade, reached the peak of his rampage.
“What is this, Toru Yan.”
Everyone flinched and looked towards the voice.
And everyone looked surprised.
The professor who appeared in the practice area was not Ren.
Toru’s eyes widened at the appearance of an unexpected person.
The person who appeared in class.
It was none other than Professor Albi.