Book 1 Chapter 84
[84] 83.
“Does that even make sense?”
“It’s not just aura amplification… it’s beyond that, isn’t it?”
All the students stared at Leo with expressions of disbelief.
‘Leo Flobe…!’
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 effect is too good, even if it is good!’
Leo had been using Arion’s breathing technique freely, but as it was a beastkin’s technique, there were parts that didn't suit him.
As a result, the actual aura amplification effect was insufficient compared to Arion’s.
Under those circumstances, this was the result of adjusting the breathing technique to suit himself, based on what Ain had taught him.
Hiss-!
Smoke rose from his hand, as if it were being cooled.
Even when he had previously drawn out more firepower than his limit, he had suffered burns.
‘This is like my arm has completely burned away.’
Leo endured the pain and retracted his sword.
“Amazing!”
“Hey! Leo, how did you do that? Is there a trick?”
“Teach me too!”
It was when the knight class students excitedly clamored to ask.
Thump- Thump-
Ain quickly approached, checked Leo’s arm, and furrowed his brows.
“Nella. Come and heal Leo’s hand.”
“Yes? Ah! Yes!”
Nella, who possessed healing aura, rushed over.
“I’ll go to the infirmary, so you all continue practicing.”
***
“The effect is much better than I thought.”
“Your arm is in this state, and you can still laugh?”
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 gave you first aid, so make sure to get proper treatment at the infirmary.”
“You worked hard, Nella.”
“Not at all. This is my job, after all.”
Nella shook her head, flashing her characteristic languid smile.
“Leo.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Did you know [Hero’s Breath] from the beginning?”
Nella was surprised by the sharp question, and Leo inwardly smiled meaningfully.
‘He figured that out just by seeing it once?’
“Yes.”
“Where did you learn it?”
“I saw it in a book when I was young.”
“Did you learn it self-taught?”
“Yes.”
“And you arbitrarily modified the technique based on what I taught you today?”
“That’s right.”
Watching Leo speak calmly, Ain felt a cold sweat run down his back.
‘He’s truly an unfathomable individual. It’s surprising enough that he self-taught the Hero’s Breath, which humans normally can’t use, but then he modified it to suit himself.’
“Was the recoil from aura amplification originally a problem?”
“Yes. Not to this extent, though.”
The effect of the newly modified breathing technique was so outstanding that the recoil also became much greater.
“Didn’t aura manifest with the method I taught you?”
“That’s right.”
“It seems your aura control method is similar to that of beastkin. That’s why what was tailored for humans didn’t suit you.”
As Ain said, the first person to teach Kyle aura back then was a beastkin mercenary.
Normally, he wouldn’t have been able to learn it properly, but thanks to Kyle’s talent and sense, he learned it without much difficulty.
‘As expected of a Professor from Lumern. He quickly identifies the problem.’
“Leo.”
“Yes.”
“From this moment on, you should avoid using [Hero’s Breath].”
“Is it because of the side effects?”
“Yes. It’s not good for you to use power to the point of injuring yourself.”
Ain sighed deeply.
“I know someone who lost their power by overdoing it.”
Leo said, looking at Ain who was muttering bitterly.
“I’ll try to control myself, but I can’t promise.”
Leo grinned.
“Transcend your limits. Isn’t that our school motto?”
Ain looked into Leo’s eyes.
‘It’s not just reckless bravado.’
Leo’s eyes were like those of someone who had overcome all sorts of adversities.
Ain let out a laugh as if resigned, and said,
“If you are that confident, I hope you show it with results.”
***
After the knight class ended.
Leo immediately headed to the magic class.
Since it was a practical class day, he headed to the magic practice area rather than the classroom building.
As Leo walked out of the training ground, he ran into a female student.
“Chloe? What brings you to the classroom building at this time?”
“I left something in the classroom, so I stopped by briefly.”
Chloe, who as always was carrying two thick grimoires in her arms, approached him.
“Did your knight class just finish?”
“Yeah. Good timing. Let’s go together.”
“S-should we?”
‘Hyaa! It’s been a while since I walked alone with Leo!’
Chloe took a deep breath, feeling a slight tension for some reason.
‘Chloe! Don’t be nervous! What’s so great about walking with Leo that you have to get nervous?’
As a composed Chloe walked, Leo asked.
“Isn’t it heavy carrying two books? Give me one, I’ll carry it for you.”
“It is heavy, but are you sure?”
“Heavy, no way.”
“Then I won’t refuse.”
The moment she smiled and handed him a grimoire, Leo’s hand touched hers.
‘Ugh! Our hands touched!’
Chloe’s face turned red, and she flusteredly turned her head sharply.
‘Oh! Seriously! Why am I acting so stupid! I’m getting more nervous because I’m conscious of it!’
Chloe, groaning, clenched her fists.
‘Alright! I’ll lighten this awkward atmosphere by making casual conversation!’
“The weather’s really nice today, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s really hot.”
“…”
As Leo squinted at the strong sunlight and looked up at the sky, Chloe slammed her forehead with the grimoire.
‘Why did I talk about the weather!’
It was when Chloe was flustered, feeling the atmosphere grow even more awkward.
“Nice atmosphere, juniors.”
Chloe startled and looked back at the voice coming from behind her.
There, Torua was lying prostrate on a magic carpet floating in the air.
“T-Torua senior?”
“Hello, Chloe-kun.”
“You know me?”
“Of course, Chloe Mueller-kun! This senior remembers the names of excellent juniors.”
“It’s an honor!”
“Mhm! As I thought, you are a good junior.”
Torua smiled brightly and reached out to pat Chloe’s head.
“Compared to such a cute junior like Chloe-kun, Leo-kun, you…”
Torua made a very displeased expression.
‘What is it? Does she dislike Leo?’
Chloe felt a slight tension at the unusual atmosphere.
“When exactly are you planning to come to the magic department? You keep being neither here nor there, so you’re getting ostracized, you know.”
“I told you, I’m the one who ostracized the entire grade.”
“You don’t have any friends, do you?”
“No, I have many. I’m close friends with Chloe right now.”
Chloe gave an awkward laugh, watching the two bickering.
“Torua senior. Are you close with Leo?”
“Yes. Of course, he’s a junior in the magic department, isn’t he?”
“Who said I was in the magic department?”
“You are.”
“Isn’t forcing a department a violation of school rules? Our homeroom professor happens to be Professor Harlind, you know.”
“Tsk. You sly one.”
Torua clicked her tongue.
Torua, who was always unrestrained, was merely a vulnerable student in front of Harlind.
“By the way, I heard you interpreted the magic of the Progenitor of the Nebula this time? How did you even do that? I tried to interpret it too, but I gave up midway.”
“I’d like to hear about that too. It’s a famous magic spell formula that the Magic Tower has researched for a long time.”
“Chloe-kun, you’re from the Northern Magic Tower, aren’t you? I saw the Northern magic interpretation, and it was different from the Southern one, which I found interesting. Would you like to have a discussion about it?”
“That sounds great!”
“Good, good. A magician should be like that. Come on, get on.”
Torua, who readily offered her magic carpet, and Chloe chatted excitedly about magic.
Both had an immense thirst for knowledge, so their conversation flowed well.
‘Magicians never change, past or present.’
The two, engrossed in their conversation, suddenly realized they were almost at the practice area.
“Hmm. We arrived without me even getting to hear Leo-kun’s interpretation. So, what kind of magic was it? The Seyrun Society hasn’t announced it yet, so this senior is dying of curiosity, junior.”
Torua poked his side with a magic staff.
Chloe, too, looked at Leo with shining eyes, curious.
Seeing that, Leo conjured mana in his hand.
Torua and Chloe stared blankly, blinking their eyes at the single flower that bloomed from Leo’s hand.
“It was magic to create flowers.”
Leo smiled, handed the flower and grimoire to Chloe, and entered the practice area.
“He has an unexpectedly charming side, doesn’t he?”
Torua chuckled, then winked at Chloe, whose ears were completely red.
“You got this, cute junior.”
***
All the magic department students gathered in the practice area had tense expressions.
The reason was none other than Torua, who could be called a great senior.
“Leo oppa. Did Zamua senior come to your knight class?”
“No. He didn’t come today.”
While Chelsea looked puzzled.
“It’s really hot today. It feels like Southern weather.”
Torua, who was on the magic carpet, muttered softly.
As soon as he heard that, Carl quickly stepped forward.
“Here’s a parasol! Senior!”
“Hm?”
“And please have this orange juice.”
Carl, who created shade with the parasol, pulled out orange juice from his pocket and handed it to Torua.
“You’re well-prepared, aren’t you?”
Torua brought the straw to his lips with a pleased expression.
Then Carl rubbed his hands together and said.
“5 silver.”
“Here.”
Torua chuckled as if he had expected it and obediently paid the price for the paid service.
“Sometimes I really envy Carl’s brazenness.”
As Chelsea said, crossing her arms, Leo let out a snort, and Torua tilted his head.
“Hmm. Still, something’s missing? Chelsea-kun, could you come here for a moment?”
“Me?”
Chelsea approached Torua.
“Could you make some cool wind?”
“Yes?”
“Here, 5 silver.”
Ding~
Chelsea snatched the 5 silver flying onto her palm with a hesitant expression.
“Errand fee. Now, quickly make some cool wind.”
Chelsea reluctantly created cool wind.
After that, Torua began to lavish 5 silver and heavily exploit his juniors.
“I couldn’t exploit the first-year students recklessly because of guilt, but now that I’m paying an errand fee, I can do it without hesitation.”
Everyone glared at Carl with dagger eyes at Torua’s satisfied smile.
‘This happened because you did something unnecessary!’
Suffering from mana depletion under the scorching sun was something magic students absolutely refused.
Carl looked stung and turned his head.
Torua’s demands became increasingly bizarre.
Such as drawing incomprehensible magic circles on the floor or making strangely shaped statues.
Just as Torua’s rampage, who was considered one of the most peculiar students in the entire grade, was reaching its peak.
“What are you doing, Torua Yan?”
Everyone flinched and looked towards the source of the voice.
And everyone looked surprised.
The professor who appeared in the practice area was not Ren.
Torua’s eyes also widened at the unexpected arrival of the person.
The person who appeared in class.
It was none other than Professor Albi.