Book 1 Chapter 93

【93】92.

"What a mess."

Leo, who had arrived at magic class, clicked his tongue.

The lockdown declared that morning was enough to turn the school itself upside down.

Even though quite some time had passed since breakfast, the students were preoccupied with talk of the lockdown.

"I understand that everyone is in disarray due to the sudden situation. However, don't worry about such things and prepare thoroughly for the inter-departmental competition."

Lenn said in a listless voice.

"As you all know, external guests will also observe the inter-departmental competition."

The chaotic atmosphere changed at once.

External guests.

It literally meant powerful figures from various countries.

Not everyone who attends Lumern becomes a hero.

However, merely attending the Hero Academy increases the likelihood of reaching a high position in the future.

"Today, we will practice Fly magic, just like in the last class."

At Lenn's words, the students made tense expressions.

Fly magic itself was easy in terms of difficulty, but its application was very difficult.

It was even harder especially because all students in Lumern's Magic Department were already accustomed to Wing magic.

"And the four students who passed the first class, please come forward."

At the call, Leo, Chelsea, Chloe, and Abbad stepped forward.

Lenn drew his staff and brandished it in the air.

Sharr-reuk-!

An entrance appeared in the air.

"All four students will receive guidance from Albi."

The four, including Leo, immediately crossed through the space and headed to the next practice area where Albi was waiting.

All the students looked at the four with envy.

'What's the difference between me and those guys, anyway! Damn it!'

While Emio gnashed his teeth inwardly, the four moved to where Albi was.

The four, having moved to a practice area excessively large for four people to use, approached Albi, who was sitting in a chair in one corner of the practice area.

"Professor Albi. Professor Lenn sent us here."

At Chloe's words, Albi, who had his eyes closed, opened them.

"Chloe Müller. What do you think your shortcomings are?"

"Pardon?"

At the sudden question, Chloe thought for a moment before answering.

"The power of spells?"

"…The power of spells, yours would be the strongest among the four of you, wouldn't it?"

"It's good to be strong, isn't it?"

"Chelsea Rwalin. What do you think your shortcomings are?"

"Close-combat ability!"

"For a Battle Mage, your close-combat ability is quite excellent, isn't it?"

"It's not enough! I think I should be able to beat down most knight-department students!"

"Yap-!" Albi sighed, watching Chelsea shout and raise her fist into the air.

"Lenn's educational philosophy is to maximize the individual strengths of each student. According to that education, you all have been honing what you do well at Lumern."

At Albi's words, Chloe and Chelsea nodded.

"But it's not good to focus too much on one area. Chelsea Rwalin. Your biggest weakness is the power of your spells."

"But Professor. I'm a Battle Mage!"

"Don't be mistaken, Chelsea Rwalin. A Battle Mage is a mage who fights on the front lines of the battlefield. Not a knight. Regardless of your position, the fact that you are a mage does not change."

"Hmm!"

"What is the fundamental role of a mage?"

"It is to change the tide of battle!"

"Do you think you can actively fight on the front lines and change the tide of battle with your current skills?"

"Ah, no."

Albi crossed his arms.

"You should set your training direction with that goal in mind."

"Specifically, what kind of training should I do?"

"You'll need to practice multi-casting."

"Multi-casting?"

Chelsea made a subtle expression.

She was already practicing multi-casting sufficiently.

In the first place, the field of spellcasting itself was Chelsea's greatest specialty.

"I'm not talking about ordinary multi-casting."

Albi raised both hands.

A Fireball was completed in his right hand.

And in his left hand…

"Hellfire?"

The strongest fire-elemental magic was created.

Simultaneously casting spells of different attributes with similar power was relatively simple.

However, simultaneously casting a low-level spell and a high-level spell was difficult.

This is because the fundamental structure of the spell formula differs as much as the output differs.

Naturally, the greater the gap between spells, the more difficult it becomes.

"If you aim to be a hero as a Battle Mage, you must be able to do this with ease."

At Albi's words, Chelsea gulped dryly.

"Begin your practice."

"Yes, sir!"

Chelsea, who answered promptly, immediately immersed herself in training.

Albi's gaze turned to Chloe.

"Chloe, you know your weakness without me having to say it, right?"

"My weakness in chaotic battles."

"Yes. In fact, chaotic battles are a problem for all types of mages except Battle Mages. Gaining mobility through Wing magic was also to avoid chaotic battles. But the fundamental problem hasn't been solved. Especially Chloe. You are a typical mage."

"Ugh!"

At Albi's words, Chloe flinched.

A typical mage who only dedicated herself to studying magic.

Of course, as a Lumern student, she had done basic physical training, but that was all.

"Prepare somewhat for chaotic battles and study martial arts."

"In magic class!?"

"Today's class is a special class for the inter-departmental competition."

"Th-that's…!"

"Go and warm up."

At Albi's words, Chloe slumped her shoulders and began to warm up in a corner.

"Abbad Rwalin."

"Yes."

"At this stage, you don't really have any particular weaknesses."

At those words, Abbad smiled faintly.

In close combat, he was outmatched by Chelsea, and in spell power, by Chloe.

However, in terms of overall combat ability, Abbad was the strongest among the first-year mages.

"Help Chelsea."

"Yes."

"The same goes for you, Leo. Help Chloe with her practice."

"Understood."

Albi, who had given tasks to the two, closed his eyes.

Leo and Abbad approached Chloe and Chelsea, who were preparing for their respective practices in the middle of the training ground.

"Now that you mention it."

At Abbad's words, Leo stopped walking.

"Is this the first time we've talked like this, just the two of us?"

Abbad smiled faintly.

Half the semester had passed, but until now, Leo and Abbad hadn't really had any points of contact.

They weren't in the same class, nor did they take magic lessons together.

"Indeed."

"My sister is always indebted to you. It seems she's received a lot of help from you with various things."

"Thanks to Chelsea, I'm also enjoying my school life."

At that reply, Abbad said with a gentle smile.

"In this inter-departmental competition, I plan to defeat you."

At the quiet and calm declaration of challenge, Leo showed a slightly surprised expression.

"I've been thinking about you since the entrance exam."

At the time of the entrance exam, Leo's skills were nowhere near Abbad's.

"Back then, I thought you were an excellent knight, but when the semester started, that wasn't the case. You successively distinguished yourself in magic and summoning."

Abbad's gaze met Leo's directly.

"The fact that someone like you existed was very interesting. But the moment I came to my senses, you were already running far ahead."

"It's an honor to be evaluated like that."

"It's not my evaluation. It's the public's evaluation. In fact, I'm grateful for your existence. If you weren't here, I would have had nothing to aim for, and school life would have been boring."

Abbad smiled a gentle, spring breeze-like smile.

"In this inter-departmental competition, I will set you as my target."

'Even I, as a man, can see he's handsome. He's not the most popular male student in the first year for nothing.'

Celia was fed up with Abbad, calling him "buttery," yet he was the most popular male student among the first-years.

Anyway, based on the conversation they had, Leo didn't dislike Abbad.

At Leo's words, Abbad greeted him gracefully like a challenger and approached Chelsea.

Watching his retreating figure, Leo let out a hollow laugh.

"Well, this is something. Being popular is also a problem."

***

"What did you talk about with Abbad?"

"He said he'd defeat me in this inter-departmental competition."

"Celia and Durran are also really determined, aren't they?"

"They've been like that since the beginning of the semester, so what?"

Chloe added, watching Leo speak nonchalantly.

"I heard during the last class representative meeting that Chen Xia and Eliza are also targeting you?"

"…"

"Warredon, being so quiet and indifferent to others, probably wouldn't do something like that, but…"

"He said he'd defeat me during last week's summoning class."

"Really?"

Chloe covered her mouth and grinned.

"What? What's with that laugh?"

"Oh, I just thought, 'As expected, it must be nice to be the year representative, being so popular!'"

Leo chuckled, watching Chloe tease him with a bright smile.

"What about you then? Am I not your target in this inter-departmental competition?"

"Huh? Not particularly."

"That's strange. During midterms, that was your goal, and you were so engrossed in some strange book that you had dark circles down to here throughout the exam period."

"Hey! Why bring that up now!"

Chloe screamed "Aack!" with a flushed face and kicked, but Leo annoyingly dodged.

"Leo. I'm definitely going to beat you in this practical exam!"

"I told you not to do that!"

Furious, Chloe swung the magic book she was holding wildly, seeing Leo even imitating her tone of voice.

"Huff-! Huff-!"

Eventually, Chloe, who was exhausted first, tidied her hair and said.

"Let me tell you in advance. My goal of defeating you hasn't changed."

"Huh?"

"It's just that my priority is to first restore my grades to what's suitable for the top student from the northern entrance exam."

"Right, that's commendable."

"Hmph!"

Chloe turned her head sharply.

"Anyway, for now, I need to develop my close-combat abilities as Professor Albi said, right? I'll help you with stretching."

Leo helped Chloe with her stretching.

He helped her stretch by pressing down on Chloe's back as she sat with her legs split, or by lifting her up while standing back-to-back.

"Ughhhh. That feels good."

Chloe mumbled, swaying back and forth while riding on Leo's back.

"Are you an old man?"

At those words, Chloe gently pulled Leo's hair.

"Alright, then, even as a mage, you've basically learned martial arts, right? What weapon did you learn with?"

"First and foremost, swordsmanship."

"Then, would you like to swing a wooden sword a bit?"

Leo took out a wooden sword from his sub-space and gave it to Chloe.

Chloe took out the wooden sword and assumed a stance.

'Oh? That looks pretty good?'

Leo admired her quite decent posture.

Chloe, who loved reading books, had also perfectly read swordsmanship manuals, so her posture was very good.

"Haap!"

Whoosh-!

And she swung the sword.

Leo, seeing that, nodded.

"You're a typical klutz, aren't you?"

Chloe pouted.

"Wouldn't it be better to just increase mobility with magic and quickly escape chaotic battles?"

"That's also a method, but even so, you should basically prepare for close combat."

"Huh?"

"Now, hold the sword like this."

Leo approached Chloe and placed his hand on the back of her hand.

As they suddenly got close enough for their breaths to mingle, Chloe's mouth opened slightly.

"Use your wrist like this, gently. Put strength into your waist."

"…!"

As Leo's hand touched her waist, Chloe's shoulders trembled like a startled cat.

"For a class, the atmosphere is quite suggestive, isn't it?"

At the voice that came from behind, Chloe was startled and moved away from Leo.

Leo turned his head and looked there.

"Hello, my cute juniors."

There was Elena, sitting cross-legged on a staff.