Book 1 Chapter 93

【93】92.

"What a mess."

Leo muttered, shaking his head as he arrived at magic class.

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

Even though a considerable amount of time had passed since breakfast, the students were still buzzing with talk about the lockdown.

"I understand that everyone is flustered by the sudden situation. However, don't let it distract you; prepare thoroughly for the departmental competition."

Ren said in a listless voice.

"As you all know, external guests will be observing the departmental competition."

The chaotic atmosphere changed instantly.

External guests.

Literally, they meant the influential figures from various countries.

Attending Lumern doesn't make everyone a hero.

However, simply attending a hero academy greatly increases the possibility of holding a high position in the future.

"Today, we will practice flight magic, just like last class."

At Ren's words, the students' faces tensed.

Flight magic itself was easy, but its application was extremely difficult.

It was even more challenging for Lumern's magic department students, who were accustomed to wing magic.

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

When called, Leo, Chelsea, Chloe, and Abad stepped forward.

Ren drew his staff and swung it in the air.

Swish-!

An entrance appeared in the air.

"The four students will all receive guidance from senior Alby."

Leo and the other three immediately passed through the portal to the next practice area where Alby was waiting.

All the students looked at the four with envy.

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

As Emio gritted his teeth inwardly, the four people moved to where Alby was.

The four were led to a practice area that was excessively large for them to use, and they approached Alby, who was sitting on a chair in one corner.

"Professor Alby. Professor Ren sent us here."

At Chloe's words, Alby, who had been closing his eyes, opened them.

"Chloe Müller. What do you think your weakness is?"

"Huh?"

Taken aback by the sudden question, Chloe pondered for a moment before replying.

"Spell power?"

"…Among the four of you, you have the strongest spell power."

"It's good to be strong."

"Chelsea Lewallin, what do you think your weakness is?"

"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 knock down at least a few students from the knight department!"

Yip-! Chelsea shouted, raising her fist in the air, and Alby sighed.

"Ren's educational philosophy is to maximize each student's strengths. Following that education, you have all honed what you are good at here at Lumern."

Chloe and Chelsea nodded at Alby's words.

"However, it's not good to focus too much on one area. Chelsea Lewallin. Your biggest weakness is spell power."

"But Professor. I'm a battle mage!"

"Don't be mistaken, Chelsea Lewallin. A battle mage is a mage who fights on the front lines. You are not a knight. Regardless of your position, the fact that you are a mage does not change."

"Ugh!"

"What is the basic role of a mage?"

"To change the tide of battle!"

"Do you think you can change the tide of battle by fighting on the front lines with your current skills?"

"Uh, no."

Alby crossed his arms.

"Set your training direction with that as your goal."

"What specific training should I do?"

"You should practice multi-casting."

"Multi-casting?"

Chelsea wore a subtle expression.

She was already practicing multi-casting sufficiently.

After all, casting itself was Chelsea's greatest specialty.

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

Alby raised both hands.

A fireball materialized in his right hand.

And in his left hand…

"Hellfire?"

The strongest fire attribute spell was created.

Simultaneously chanting other attribute spells of similar power was relatively simple.

However, chanting low-level and high-level spells simultaneously was difficult.

Due to the different output levels, even the basic structure of spell composition was different.

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

"If you aim to be a hero as a battle mage, you should be able to do this much easily."

At Alby's words, Chelsea swallowed dryly.

"Let's begin practice."

"Yes!"

Chelsea, who responded briskly, immediately immersed herself in training.

Alby's gaze turned to Chloe.

"Chloe, you know your weakness without me saying it, right?"

"Being weak in chaotic battles."

"Yes. In fact, chaotic battles are a problem for all types of mages except battle mages. The reason for securing mobility through wing magic was to avoid chaotic battles. However, the fundamental problem has not been solved. Especially you, Chloe. You are a typical mage."

"Ugh!"

Chloe flinched at Alby's words.

A typical mage, who only dedicated herself to magic studies.

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

"Study unarmed combat to prepare for chaotic battles to some extent."

"In magic class!?"

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

"Th-that…!"

"Go and warm up."

At Alby's words, Chloe slumped her shoulders and began warming up on one side.

"Abad Lewallin."

"Yes."

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

At that, Abad smiled.

In close combat, he was inferior to Chelsea, and in spell power, he was inferior to Chloe.

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

"Help Chelsea."

"Yes."

"Leo, you too. You help Chloe with her practice."

"Understood."

Alby, who had assigned tasks to the two, closed his eyes.

Leo and Abad approached Chloe and Chelsea in the center of the practice area, who were preparing for their respective practices.

"Speaking of which."

At Abad's words, Leo stopped walking.

"Is this the first time we've talked alone like this?"

Abad smiled faintly.

Half the semester had passed, but there had been no particular connection between Leo and Abad.

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

"Yes, it is."

"My younger sibling is always indebted to you. It seems she receives a lot of help from you."

"I'm also having a fun school life thanks to Chelsea."

At that answer, Abad said with a gentle smile.

"I plan to defeat you in this departmental competition."

Leo looked slightly surprised at the quiet and calm declaration.

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

During the entrance exam, Leo was far inferior to Abad's skill.

"At that time, I thought you were an outstanding knight, but after the semester began, you weren't. You showed outstanding talent in both magic and summoning."

Abad's gaze fixed on Leo.

"It was very interesting to know that someone like you exists. But the moment I came to my senses, you were already running ahead."

"I'm honored by your assessment."

"It's not my assessment. It's the common assessment. In fact, I'm grateful for your existence. If you weren't here, I wouldn't have anything to aim for, and school life would be boring."

Abad smiled with a smile as soft as a spring breeze.

"In this departmental competition, I will make you my target."

'Even as a man, he's handsome. It's no wonder he's the most popular male student among the first-years.'

Although Abad, who detested Celia calling him buttery, was the most popular male student among the first-years.

In any case, based on their conversation, Leo didn't dislike Abad.

At Leo's words, Abad bowed gracefully like a challenger and approached Chelsea.

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

"My goodness. Being popular is also a problem."

***

"What did you talk about with Abad?"

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

"Celia and Duran were also looking forward to it."

"They've been like that since the beginning of the semester."

Seeing Leo speak indifferently, Chloe added.

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

"……."

"Warden is usually quiet and indifferent to others, so I don't really think so, but…"

"Last week, during the summoning class, he said he would defeat me."

"Really?"

Chloe covered her mouth and giggled.

"What's with that laugh?"

"No, it's just that it's nice that the class representative is so popular!"

Seeing Chloe grinning and teasing him, Leo chuckled.

"What about you? Aren't I your target in this departmental competition?"

"Hmm? Not really."

"That's strange. During the midterms, you seemed so focused on that goal that you had dark circles under your eyes the entire exam period."

"Hey! Why are you bringing that up now!"

Chloe, her face bright red, yelped and kicked, but Leo skillfully dodged.

"Leo. I will definitely beat you in this practical exam!"

"Don't do that!"

Seeing Leo imitating her speech, Chloe, enraged, swung her magic book around.

"Huff! Huff!"

Finally, Chloe, who got tired first, adjusted her hair and said.

"Let me tell you in advance. My goal is still you."

"Huh?"

"It's just that before that, it's a priority to recover the grades befitting the top student of the northern entrance."

"Yes, that's commendable."

"Hmph!"

Chloe turned her head away sharply.

"Anyway, as Professor Alby said, I should improve my close combat abilities now, right? I'll help you with your stretching."

Leo helped Chloe with her stretching.

He helped her stretch by pressing on her back while she sat with her legs spread, or by lifting her while their backs were against each other.

"Ooooh. That feels good."

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

"Are you an old man?"

At those words, Chloe lightly tugged Leo's hair.

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

"Well, the most common one is swordsmanship."

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

Leo took out a wooden sword from his spatial pocket and gave it to Chloe.

Chloe took out the wooden sword and assumed a stance.

'Huh? That looks plausible.'

Leo was impressed by her surprisingly proper stance.

Chloe, who loved reading books, had also perfectly read sword fighting manuals, so her stance was very good.

"Haaap!"

Whoosh-!

And she swung the sword.

Seeing that, Leo nodded.

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

Chloe pouted.

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

"That's one way, but even so, you need to prepare for close combat as a basic."

"Huh?"

"Here, hold the sword like this."

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

Chloe's mouth gaped as their breaths suddenly became close enough to touch.

"Use your wrists like this, smoothly. Put strength in your hips."

"……!"

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

"This is a very lewd atmosphere for a class."

At that moment, Chloe jumped in surprise at the voice from behind and moved away from Leo.

Leo turned his head and looked there.

"Hello, my cute juniors."

There was Elena, sitting with her legs crossed on her staff.

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